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THE   BOOK   OF  JEREMIAH 
Including  THE  LAMENTATIONS 


975  copies  of  this  book  have 

been  printed  from  type. 

I    P\  "h 
This  is  Number- .-,*4,iJ-T5j^ 


Thou  therefore  gird  up  thy  loins,  and  arise,  and  speak  unto  them 
all  that  I  command  thee. — i-17. 


THE  BOOK^OF 

lEHEMIAH 

y  including 

THE  LAMENTATIONS 
with  fifteen  drawing 
in  blacl^and  white  ^ 

WILLIAM  SAPHIER^ 


Privately  jorintcd  b^ 
NICHOLAS  L  BROWN 

0\(etO  ^ory^MCMXXI 


Illustrations 
By  WILLIAM  SAPHIER 

Copyright,  1921 

BY 

NICHOLAS  L.   BROWN 


QZJ  j6f  (t^C-C] 


PUBLISHER'S  NOTE 

The  text  of  this  edition  of  The  Book  of 
Jeremiah  and  The  Lamentations  is  that  of  the 
revised  version  of  the  Bible. 


New^  York,  January,   192 1. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Thou  therefore  gird  up  thy  loins,  and  arise,  and  speak 
unto  them  all  that  I  command  thee. — Jeremiah 
i,  17 3 

And  their  nobles  sent  their  little  ones  to  the  waters ; 
they  come  to  the  cisterns,  and  find  no  water; 
they  return  with  their  vessels  empty. — xiv,  3      .      46 

The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah, 
saying,  2  Arise  and  go  down  to  the  potter's 
house,  and  there  I  will  cause  thee  to  hear  my 
words. — xviy,    1-2 59 

Then  Pashhur  smote  Jeremiah  the  prophet. — xx,  2    .      64 

The  word  which  came  unto  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah, 
when  King  Zedekiah  sent  unto  him  Pashhur  the 
son  of  Malchijah,  and  Zephaniah  the  son  of 
Maaseiah  the  priest. — xxi,  i 67 

Then  Hananiah  the  prophet  took  the  bar  from  off  the 
prophet  Jeremiah's  neck,  and  brake  it. — xxviii, 
10 93 

Then  Jeremiah  called  Baruch  the  son  of  Neriah. — 

xxxvi,  4 124 

And  cast  it  into  the  fire  that  was  in  the  brazier. — 

xxxvi,  23 127 

So  they  drew  up  Jeremiah  with  the  cords,  and  took 

him  up  out  of  the  dungeon. — xxxviii,  13      .      .133 

And  they  shall  bring  out  all  thy  wives  and  thy  chil- 
dren to  the  Chaldeans;  and  thou  shalt  not  escape 
out  of  their  hand. — xxxviii,  23 134 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

But  the  army  of  the  Chaldeans  pursued  after  them, 
and  overtook  Zedekiah  in  the  plains  of  Jericho. 
— xxxix,  5 136 

Took  all  the  remnant  of  Judah  that  were  returned 
from  all  the  nations  whither  they  had  been 
driven, — xliii,  5 148 

For  I  will  punish  them  that  dwell  in  the  land  of 

Egypt,  as  I  have  punished  Jerusalem. — xliv,  13  .    151 

And  changed  his  prison  garments.  And  did  eat  bread 
before  him  continually  all  the  days  of  his  life. — 
lii,  33 189 

How  doth  the  city  sit  solitary,  that  was  full  of  peo- 
ple!— Lamentations  i,   I 191 


THE   BOOK   OF  JEREMIAH 
Including  THE  LAMETATIONS 


THE 
BOOK  OF  JEREMIAH 

CHAPTER  I 

The  words  of  Jeremiah  the  son  of  Hilkiah, 
of  the  priests  that  were  in  Anathoth  in  the  land 
of  Benjamin :  2  to  whom  the  word  of  Jehovah 
came  in  the  days  of  Josiah  the  son  of  Amon, 
king  of  Judah,  in  the  thirteenth  year  of  his 
reign.  3  It  came  also  in  the  days  of  Jehoi- 
akim  the  son  of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  unto  the 
end  of  the  eleventh  year  of  Zedekiah,  the  son 
of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  unto  the  carrying 
away  of  Jerusalem  captive  in  the  fifth  month. 

4  Now  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  unto  me, 
saying,  5  Before  I  formed  thee  in  the  belly  I 
knew  thee,  and  before  thou  camest  forth  out 
of  the  womb  I  sanctified  thee;  T  have  ap- 
pointed thee  a  prophet  unto  the  nations.  6 
Then  said  T,  Ah,  Lord  Jehovah!  behold,  T 
know  not  how  to  speak;  for  I  am  a  child.  7 
But  Jehovah  said  unto  me,  Say  not,  I  am  a 

I 


child;  for  to  whomsoever  I  shall  send  thee 
thou  shaltgo,  and  whatsoever  I  shall  command 
thee  thou  shalt  speak.  8  Be  not  afraid  be- 
cause of  them;  for  I  am  with  thee  to  deliver 
thee,  saith  Jehovah.  9  Then  Jehovah  put 
forth  his  hand,  and  touched  my  mouth;  and 
Jehovah  said  unto  me.  Behold,  I  have  put  my 
words  in  thy  mouth:  10  see,  I  have  this  day 
set  thee  over  the  nations  and  over  the  king- 
doms, to  pluck  up  and  to  break  down  and  to 
destroy  and  to  overthrow,  to  build  and  to 
plant. 

1 1  Moreover  the  word  of  Jehovah  came 
unto  me,  saying,  Jeremiah,  what  seest  thou? 
And  I  said,  I  see  a  rod  of  an  almond-tree. 
12  Then  said  Jehovah  unto  me.  Thou  hast 
well  seen:  for  I  watch  over  my  word  to  per- 
form it. 

13  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  unto  me 
the  second  time,  saying.  What  seest  thou? 
And  I  said,  I  see  a  boiling  caldron;  and  the 
face  thereof  is  from  the  north.  14  Then  Je- 
hovah said  unto  me,  Out  of  the  north  evil  shall 
break  forth  upon  all  the  inhabitants  of  the 
land.  15  For,  lo,  I  will  call  all  the  families 
of  the  kingdoms  of  the  north,  saith  Jehovah; 
and  they  shall  come,  and  they  shall  set  every 
one  his  throne  at  the  entrance  of  the  gates  of 
Jerusalem,  and  against  all  the  walls  thereof 

2 


round  about,  and  against  all  the  cities  of 
Judah.  i6  And  I  will  utter  my  judgments 
against  them  touching  all  their  wickedness,  in 
that  they  have  forsaken  me,  and  have  burned 
incense  unto  other  gods,  and  worshipped  the 
works  of  their  own  hands.  17  Thou  there- 
fore gird  up  thy  loins,  and  arise,  and  speak 
unto  them  all  that  I  command  thee:  be  not 
dismayed  at  them,  lest  I  dismay  thee  before 
them.  18  For,  behold,  I  have  made  thee  this 
day  a  fortified  city,  and  an  iron  pillar,  and 
brazen  walls,  against  the  whole  land,  against 
the  kings  of  Judah,  against  the  princes  thereof, 
against  the  priests  thereof,  and  against  the 
people  of  the  land.  19  And  they  shall  fight 
against  thee;  but  they  shall  not  prevail  against 
thee :  for  I  am  with  thee,  saith  Jehovah,  to  de- 
liver thee. 

CHAPTER  II 

And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me,  say- 
ing, 2  Go,  and  cry  in  the  ears  of  Jerusalem, 
saying.  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  I  remember  for 
thee  the  kindness  of  thy  youth,  the  love  of 
thine  espousals;  how  thou  wentest  after  me  in 
the  wilderness,  in  a  land  that  was  not  sown.  3 
Israel  was  holiness  unto  Jehovah,  the  first- 
fruits  of  his  increase:  all  that  devour  him  shall 

3 


be  held  guilty;  evil  shall  come  upon  them, 
saith  Jehovah. 

4  Hear  ye  the  word  of  Jehovah,  O  house 
of  Jacob,  and  all  the  families  of  the  house  of 
Israel:  5  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  What  unright- 
eousness have  your  fathers  found  in  me  that 
they  are  gone  far  from  me,  and  have  walked 
after  vanity,  and  are  become  vain?  6 
Neither  said  they.  Where  is  Jehovah  that 
brought  us  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  that 
led  us  through  the  wilderness,  through  a  land 
of  deserts  and  of  pits,  through  a  land  of 
drought  and  of  the  shadow  of  death,  through 
a  land  that  none  passed  through,  and  where 
no  man  dwelt?  7  And  I  brought  you  into  a 
plentiful  land,  to  eat  the  fruit  thereof  and  the 
goodness  thereof;  but  when  ye  entered,  ye 
defiled  my  land,  and  made  my  heritage  an 
abomination.  8  The  priests  said  not.  Where 
is  Jehovah?  and  they  that  handle  the  law 
knew  me  not:  the  rulers  also  transgressed 
against  me,  and  the  prophets  prophesied  by 
Baal,  and  walked  after  things  that  do  not 
profit. 

9  Wherefore  I  will  yet  contend  with  you, 
saith  Jehovah,  and  with  your  children's  chil- 
dren will  I  contend.  10  For  pass  over  to  the 
isles  of  Kittim,  and  see;  and  send  unto  Kedar, 
and  consider  diligently;  and  see  if  there  hath 

4 


been  such  a  thing.  1 1  Hath  a  nation  changed 
its  gods,  which  yet  are  no  gods?  but  my  peo- 
ple have  changed  their  glory  for  that  which 
doth  not  profit.  12  Be  astonished,  O  ye 
heavens,  at  this,  and  be  horribly  afraid,  be  ye 
very  desolate,  saith  Jehovah.  13  For  my  peo- 
ple have  committed  two  evils:  they  have  for- 
saken me,  the  fountain  of  living  waters,  and 
hewed  them  out  cisterns,  broken  cisterns,  that 
can  hold  no  water. 

14  Is  Israel  a  servant?  is  he  a  home-born 
slaved  why  is  he  become  a  prey?  15  The 
young  lions  have  roared  upon  him,  and  yelled ; 
and  they  have  made  his  land  waste:  his  cities 
are  burned  up,  without  inhabitant.  16  The 
children  also  of  Memphis  and  Tahpanhes 
have  broken  the  crown  of  thy  head.  17  Hast 
thou  not  procured  this  unto  thyself,  in  that 
thou  hast  forsaken  Jehovah  thy  God,  when  he 
led  thee  by  the  way?  18  And  now  what  hast 
thou  to  do  in  the  way  to  Egypt,  to  drink  the 
waters  of  the  Shihor?  or  what  hast  thou  to  do 
in  the  way  to  Assyria,  to  drink  the  waters  of 
the  River?  19  Thine  own  wickedness  shall 
correct  thee,  and  thy  backslidings  shall  re- 
prove thee:  know  therefore  and  see  that  it  is 
an  evil  thing  and  a  bitter,  that  thou  hast  for- 
saken Jehovah  thy  God,  and  that  my  fear  is 
not  in  thee,  saith  the  Lord,  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

5 


20  For  of  old  time  I  have  broken  thy  yoke, 
and  burst  thy  bonds;  and  thou  saidst,  I  will 
not  serve;  for  upon  every  hig'h  hill  and  under 
every  green  tree  thou  didst  bow  thyself,  play- 
ing the  harlot.  21  Yet  I  had  planted  thee  a 
noble  vine,  wholly  a  right  seed :  how  then 
art  thou  turned  into  the  degenerate  branches 
of  a  foreign  vine  unto  me?  22  For  though 
thou  wash  thee  with  lye,  and  take  thee  much 
soap,  yet  thine  iniquity  is  marked  before  me, 
saith  the  Lord  Jehovah.  23  How  canst  thou 
say,  I  am  not  defiled,  I  have  not  gone  after 
the  Baalim?  see  thy  way  in  the  valley,  know 
w^hat  thou  hast  done:  thou  art  a  swift  drome- 
dary traversing  her  ways ;  24  a  wild  ass  used 
to  the  wilderness,  that  snuffeth  up  the  wind  in 
her  desire;  in  her  occasion  who  can  turn  her 
away?  all  they  that  seek  her  will  not  weary 
themselves;  in  her  month  they  shall  find  her. 
25  Withhold  thy  foot  from  being  unshod,  and 
thy  throat  from  thirst  But  thou  saidst.  It  is 
in  vain;  no,  for  I  have  loved  strangers,  and 
after  them  will  I  go. 

26  As  the  thief  is  ashamed  when  he  is  found, 
so  is  the  house  of  Israel  ashamed;  they,  their 
kings,  their  princes,  and  their  priests,  and  their 
prophets;  27  who  say  to  a  stock.  Thou  art  my 
father;  and  to  a  stone.  Thou  hast  brought  me 
forth:  for  they  have  turned  their  back  unto 

6 


me,  and  not  their  face;  but  in  the  time  of  their 
trouble  they  will  say,  Arise,  and  save  us.  28 
But  where  are  thy  gods  that  thou  hast  made 
thee?  let  them  arise,  if  they  can  save  thee  in 
the  time  of  thy  trouble:  for  according  to  the 
number  of  thy  cities  are  thy  gods,  O  Judah. 

29  Wherefore  will  ye  contend  with  me?  ye 
all  have  transgressed  against  me,  saith  Je- 
hovah. 30  In  vain  have  I  smitten  your  chil- 
dren; they  received  no  correction:  your  own 
sword  hath  devoured  your  prophets,  like  a  de- 
stroying lion.  31  O  generation,  see  ye  the 
word  of  Jehovah.  Have  I  been  a  wilderness 
unto  Israel?  or  a  land  of  thick  darkness? 
wherefore  say  my  people.  We  are  broken 
loose;  we  will  come  no  more  unto  thee?  32 
Can  a  virgin  forget  her  ornaments,  or  a  bride 
her  attire?  yet  my  people  have  forgotten  me 
days  without  number.  33  How  trimmest 
thou  thy  way  to  seek  love!  therefore  even  the 
wicked  women  hast  thou  taught  thy  ways.  34 
Also  in  thy  skirts  is  found  the  blood  of  the 
souls  of  the  innocent  poor:  thou  didst  not  find 
them  breaking  in;  but  it  is  because  of  all  these 
things.  35  Yet  thou  saidst,  I  am  innocent; 
surely  his  anger  is  turned  away  from  me. 
Behold,  I  will  enter  into  judgment  with  thee, 
because  thou  sayest,  I  have  not  sinned.  36 
Why  gaddest  thou  about  so  much  to  change 

7 


thy  way?  thou  shalt  be  ashamed  of  Egypt  also, 
as  thou  wast  ashamed  of  Assyria.  37  From 
thence  also  shalt  thou  go  forth,  with  thy  hands 
upon  thy  head:  for  Jehovah  hath  rejected 
those  in  whom  thou  trustest,  and  thou  shalt 
not  prosper  with  them. 


CHAPTER  III 

They  say,  If  a  man  put  away  his  wife,  and 
she  go  from  him,  and  become  another  man's, 
will  he  return  unto  her  again?  will  not  that 
land  be  greatly  polluted?  But  thou  hast 
played  the  harlot  with  many  lovers;  yet  re- 
turn again  to  me,  saith  Jehovah.  2  Lift  up 
thine  eyes  unto  the  bare  heights,  and  see; 
where  hast  thou  not  been  lain  with?  By  the 
ways  hast  thou  sat  for  them,  as  an  Arabian 
in  the  wilderness;  and  thou  hast  polluted  the 
land  with  thy  whoredoms  and  with  thy  wick- 
edness. 3  Therefore  the  showers  have  been 
withholden,  and  there  hath  been  no  latter 
rain;  yet  thou  hadst  a  harlot's  forehead,  thou 
refusedst  to  be  ashamed.  4  Wilt  thou  not 
from  this  time  cry  unto  me,  My  Father,  thou 
art  the  guide  of  my  youth?  5  Will  he  retain 
his  anger  for  ever?  will  he  keep  it  to  the  end? 

8 


Behold,  thou  hast  spyoken  and  hast  done  evil 
things,  and  hast  had  thy  way. 

6  Moreover  Jehovah  said  unto  me  in  the 
days  of  Josiah  the  king,  Hast  thou  seen  that 
which  backsliding  Israel  hath  done?  she  is 
gone  up  upon  every  high  mountain  and  under 
every  green  tree,  and  there  hath  played  the 
harlot.  7  And  I  said  after  she  had  done  all 
these  things,  She  will  return  unto  me;  but  she 
returned  not;  and  her  treacherous  sister  Judah 
saw  it.  8  And  I  saw,  when,  for  this  very 
cause  that  backsliding  Israel  had  committed 
adultery,  I  had  put  her  away  and  given  her  a 
bill  of  divorcement,  yet  treacherous  Judah  her 
sister  feared  not;  but  she  also  went  and  played 
the  harlot.  9  And  it  came  to  pass  through 
the  lightness  of  her  whoredom,  that  the  land 
was  polluted,  and  she  committed  adultery  with 
stones  and  with  stocks.  10  And  yet  for  all 
this  her  treacherous  sister  Judah  hath  not  re- 
turned unto  me  with  her  whole  heart,  but 
feignedly,  saith  Jehovah. 

1 1  And  Jehovah  said  unto  me.  Backsliding 
Israel  hath  showed  herself  more  righteous 
than  treacherous  Judah.  12  Go,  and  pro- 
claim these  words  toward  the  north,  and  say, 
return,  thou  backsliding  Israel,  saith  Jehovah; 
I  will  not  look  in  anger  upon  you;  for  I  am 
merciful,  saith  Jehovah,  I  will  not  keep  anyer 

9 


for  ever.  13  Only  acknowledge  thine  in- 
iquity, that  thou  hast  transgressed  against  Je- 
hovah thy  God,  and  hast  scattered  the  ways  to 
the  strangers  under  every  green  tree,  and  ye 
have  not  obeyed  my  voice,  saith  Jehovah.  14 
Return,  O  backsliding  children,  saith  Je- 
hovah; for  I  am  a  husband  unto  you:  and  I 
will  take  you  one  of  a  city,  and  two  of  a  fam- 
ily, and  I  will  bring  you  to  Zion.  15  And  I 
will  give  you  shepherds  according  to  my  heart, 
who  shall  feed  you  with  knowledge  and  under- 
standing. 16  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when 
ye  are  multiplied  and  increased  in  the  land, 
in  those  days,  saith  Jehovah,  they  shall  say  no 
more.  The  ark  of  the  covenant  of  Jehovah; 
neither  shall  it  come  to  mind;  neither  shall 
they  remember  it;  neither  shall  they  miss  it; 
neither  shall  it  be  made  any  more.  17  At  that 
time  they  shall  call  Jerusalem  the  throne  of 
Jehovah;  and  all  the  nations  shall  be  gathered 
unto  it,  to  the  name  of  Jehovah,  to  Jerusalem: 
neither  shall  they  walk  any  more  after  the 
stubbornness  of  their  evil  heart.  18  In  those 
days  the  house  of  Judah  shall  walk  with  the 
house  of  Israel,  and  they  shall  come  together 
out  of  the  land  of  the  north  to  the  land  that  I 
gave  for  an  inheritance  unto  your  fathers. 

19  But  I  said.  How  I  will  put  thee  among 
the  children,  and  give  thee  a  pleasant  land, 

10 


a  goodly  heritage  of  the  hosts  of  the  nations! 
and  I  said,  Ye  shall  call  me  My  Father,  and 
shall  not  turn  away  from  following  me.  20 
Surely  as  a  wife  treacherously  departeth  from 
her  husband,  so  have  ye  dealt  treacherously 
with  me,  O  house  of  Israel,  saith  Jehovah.  21 
A  voice  is  heard  upon  the  bare  heights,  the 
weeping  and  the  supplications  of  the  children 
of  Israel;  because  they  have  perverted  their 
way,  they  have  forgotten  Jehovah  their  God. 
22  Return,  ye  backsliding  children,  I  will  heal 
your  backslidings. 

Behold,  we  are  come  unto  thee;  for  thou  art 
Jehovah  our  God.  23  Truly  in  vain  is  the 
help  that  is  looked  for  from  the  hills,  the  tu- 
mult on  the  mountains:  truly  in  Jehovah  our 
God  is  the  salvation  of  Israel.  24  But  the 
shameful  thing  hath  devoured  the  labor  of  our 
fathers  from  our  youth,  their  flocks  and  their 
herds,  their  sons  and  their  daughters.  25  Let 
us  lie  down  in  our  shame,  and  let  our  confusion 
cover  us;  for  we  have  sinned  against  Jehovah 
our  God,  we  and  our  fathers,  from  our  youth 
even  unto  this  day;  and  we  have  not  obeyed 
the  voice  of  Jehovah  our  God. 


II 


CHAPTER  IV 

If  thou  wilt  return,  O  Israel,  saith  Jehovah, 
if  thou  wilt  return  unto  me,  and  if  thou  wilt 
put  away  thine  abominations  out  of  my  sight; 
then  shalt  thou  not  be  removed;  2  and  thou 
shalt  swear.  As  Jehovah  liveth,  in  truth,  in 
justice,  and  in  righteousness;  and  the  nations 
shall  bless  themselves  in  him,  and  in  him  shall 
they  glory. 

3  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  to  the  men  of 
Judah  and  to  Jerusalem,  Break  up  your  fal- 
low ground,  and  sow  not  among  thorns.  4 
Circumcise  yourselves  to  Jehovah,  and  take 
away  the  foreskins  of  your  heart,  ye  men  of 
Judah  and  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem;  lest  my 
wrath  go  forth  like  fire,  and  burn  so  that  none 
can  quench  it,  because  of  the  evil  of  your 
doings. 

5  Declare  ye  in  Judah,  and  publish  in 
Jerusalem;  and  say.  Blow  ye  the  trumpet  in 
the  land :  cry  aloud  and  say.  Assemble  your- 
selves, and  let  us  go  into  the  fortified  cities.  6 
Set  up  a  standard  toward  Zion:  flee  for  safety, 
stay  not;  for  I  will  bring  evil  from  the  north, 
and  a  great  destruction.  .  7  A  lion  is  gone  up 
from  his  thicket,  and  a  destroyer  of  nations; 
he  is  on  his  way,  he  is  gone  forth  from  his 

12 


place,  to  make  thy  land  desolate,  that  thy 
cities  be  laid  waste,  without  inhabitant.  8 
For  this  gird  you  with  sackcloth,  lament  and 
wail;  for  the  fierce  anger  of  Jehovah  is  not 
turned  back  from  us.  9  And  it  shall  come 
to  pass  at  that  day,  saith  Jehovah,  that  the 
heart  of  the  king  shall  perish,  and  the  heart 
of  the  princes;  and  priests  shall  be  astonished, 
and  the  prophets  shall  wonder. 

10  Then  said  I,  Ah,  Lord  Jehovah!  surely 
thou  hast  greatly  deceived  this  people  and 
Jerusalem,  saying.  Ye  shall  have  peace; 
whereas  the  sword  reacheth  unto  the  life. 

1 1  At  that  time  shall  it  be  said  to  this  peo- 
ple and  to  Jerusalem,  A  hot  wind  from  the 
bare  heights  in  the  wilderness  toward  the 
daughter  of  my  people,  not  to  winnow,  nor  to 
cleanse;  12  a  full  wind  from  these  shall  come 
for  me :  now  will  I  also  utter  judgments  against 
them.  13  Behold,  he  shall  come  up  as  clouds, 
and  his  chariots  shall  be  as  the  whirlwind:  his 
horses  are  swifter  than  eagles.  Woe  unto  us! 
for  we  are  ruined.  14  O  Jerusalem,  wash  thy 
heart  from  wickedness,  that  thou  mayest  be 
saved.  How  long  shall  thine  evil  thoughts 
lodge  within  thee?  15  For  a  voice  declareth 
from  Dan,  and  publisheth  evil  from  the  hills 
of  Ephraim.  16  Make  ye  mention  to  the  na- 
tions; behold,  publish  against  Jerusalem,  that 

13 


watchers  come  from  a  far  country,  and  give 
out  their  voice  against  the  cities  of  Judah.  17 
As  keepers  of  a  field  are  they  against  her 
round  about,  because  she  hath  been  rebellious 
against  me,  saith  Jehovah.  18  Thy  way  and 
thy  doings  have  procured  these  things  unto 
thee;  this  is  thy  wickedness;  for  it  is  bitter,  for 
it  reacheth  unto  thy  heart. 

19  My  anguish,  my  anguish!  I  am  pained 
at  my  very  heart ;  my  heart  is  disquieted  in  me ; 
I  cannot  hold  my  peace;  because  thou  hast 
heard,  O  my  soul,  the  sound  of  the  trumpet, 
the  alarm  of  war.  20  Destruction  upon  de- 
struction is  cried;  for  the  whole  land  is  laid 
waste:  suddenly  are  my  tents  destroyed,  and 
my  curtains  in  a  moment.  21  How  long  shall 
I  see  the  standard,  and  hear  the  sound  of  the 
trumpet?  22  For  my  people  are  foolish,  they 
know  me  not;  they  are  sottish  children,  and 
they  have  no  understanding;  they  are  wise  to 
do  evil,  but  to  do  good  they  have  no  knowl- 
edge. 

23  I  beheld  the  earth,  and,  lo,  it  was  waste 
and  void;  and  the  heavens,  and  they  had  no 
light.  24  I  beheld  the  mountains,  and,  lo, 
they  trembled,  and  all  the  hills  moved  to  and 
fro.  25  I  beheld,  and,  lo,  there  was  no  man, 
and  all  the  birds  of  the  heavens  were  fled.  26 
I  beheld,  and,  lo,  the  fruitful  field  was  a  wil- 

14 


derness,  and  all  the  cities  thereof  were  broken 
down  at  the  presence  of  Jehovah,  and  before 
his  fierce  anger. 

27  For  thus  saith  Jehovah,  The  whole  land 
shall  be  a  desolation;  yet  will  I  not  make  a 
full  end.  28  For  this  shall  the  earth  mourn, 
and  the  heavens  above  be  black;  because  I 
have  spoken  it,  I  have  purposed  it,  and  I  have 
not  repented,  neither  will  I  turn  back  from  it. 
29  Every  city  fleeth  for  the  noise  of  the  horse- 
men and  bowmen;  they  go  into  the  thickets, 
and  climb  up  upon  the  rocks:  every  city  is 
forsaken,  and  not  a  man  dwelleth  therein.  30 
And  thou,  when  thou  art  made  desolate,  what 
wilt  thou  do?  Though  thou  clothest  thyself 
with  scarlet,  though  thou  deckest  thee  with  or- 
naments of  gold,  though  thou  enlargest  thine 
eyes  with  paint,  in  vain  dost  thou  make  thy- 
self fair;  thy  lovers  despise  thee,  they  seek  thy 
life.  31  For  I  have  heard  a  voice  as  of  a 
woman  in  travail,  the  anguish  as  of  her  that 
bringeth  forth  her  first  child,  the  voice  of  the 
daughter  of  Zion,  that  gaspeth  for  breath,  that 
spreadeth  her  hands,  saying,  Woe  is  me  now; 
for  my  soul  fainteth  before  the  murderers. 


15 


CHAPTER  V 

Run  ye  to  and  fro  through  the  streets  of 
Jerusalem,  and  see  now,  and  know,  and  seek 
in  the  broad  places  thereof,  if  ye  can  find  a 
man,  if  there  be  any  that  doeth  justly,  that 
seeketh  truth;  and  I  will  pardon  her.  2  And 
though  they  say,  As  Jehovah  liveth;  surely 
they  swear  falsely.  3  O  Jehovah,  do  not  thine 
eyes  look  upon  truth?  thou  hast  stricken  them, 
but  they  were  not  grieved ;  thou  hast  consumed 
them,  but  they  have  refused  to  receive  correc- 
tion: they  have  made  their  faces  harder  than 
a  rock ;  they  have  refused  to  return. 

4  Then  I  said.  Surely  these  are  poor;  they 
are  foolish;  for  they  know  not  the  way  of  Je- 
hovah, nor  the  law  of  their  God :  5  I  will  get 
me  unto  the  great  men,  and  will  speak  unto 
them;  for  they  know  the  way  of  Jehovah,  and 
the  justice  of  their  God.  But  these  with  one 
accord  have  broken  the  yoke,  and  burst  the 
bonds,  6  Wherefore  a  lion  out  of  the  forest 
shall  slay  them,  a  wolf  of  the  evenings  shall 
destroy  them,  a  leopard  shall  watch  against 
their  cities;  every  one  that  goeth  out  thence 
shall  be  torn  in  pieces;  because  their  trans- 
gressions are  many,  and  their  backslidings  are 
increased. 

16 


7  How  can  I  pardon  thee?  thy  children 
have  forsaken  me,  and  sworn  by  them  that  are 
no  gods.  When  I  had  fed  them  to  the  full, 
they  committed  adultery,  and  assembled  them- 
selves in  troops  at  the  harlots'  houses;  8  they 
were  as  fed  horses  roaming  at  large;  every 
one  neighed  after  his  neighbor's  wife.  9 
Shall  I  not  visit  for  these  things?  saith  Je- 
hovah; and  shall  not  my  soul  be  avenged  on 
such  a  nation  as  this? 

10  Go  ye  up  upon  her  walls,  and  destroy; 
but  make  not  a  full  end:  take  away  her 
branches ;  for  they  are  not  Jehovah's.  1 1  For 
the  house  of  Israel  and  the  house  of  Judah 
have  dealt  very  treacherously  against  me,  saith 
Jehovah.  12  They  have  denied  Jehovah, 
and  said,  It  is  not  he;  neither  shall  evil  come 
upon  us;  neither  shall  we  see  sword  nor  fam- 
ine: 13  and  the  prophets  shall  become  wind, 
and  the  word  is  not  in  them:  thus  shall  it  be 
done  unto  them. 

14  Wherefore  thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God 
of  hosts,  Because  ye  speak  this  word,  behold, 
I  will  make  my  words  in  thy  mouth  fire,  and 
this  people  wood,  and  it  shall  devour  them. 
15  Lo,  I  will  bring  a  nation  upon  you  from 
far,  O  house  of  Israel,  saith  Jehovah:  it  is  a 
mighty  nation,  it  is  an  ancient  nation,  a  nation 
whose  language  thou  knowest  not,  neither  un- 

17 


derstandest  what  they  say.  i6  Their  quiver 
is  an  open  sepulchre,  they  are  all  mighty  men. 
17  And  they  shall  eat  up  thy  harvest,  and  thy 
bread,  which  thy  sons  and  thy  daughters 
should  eat;  they  shall  eat  up  thy  flocks  and  thy 
herds ;  they  shall  eat  up  thy  vines  and  thy  fig- 
trees;  they  shall  beat  down  the  fortified  cities, 
wherein  thou  trustest,  with  the  sword.  18 
But  even  in  those  days,  saith  Jehovah,  I  will 
not  make  a  full  end  with  you. 

19  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  ye  shall 
say,  Wherefore  hath  Jehovah  our  God  done 
all  these  things  unto  us?  then  shalt  thou  say 
unto  them,  Like  as  ye  have  forsaken  me,  and 
served  foreign  gods  in  your  land,  so  shall  ye 
serve  strangers  in  a  land  that  is  not  yours. 

20  Declare  ye  this  in  the  house  of  Jacob, 
and  publish  it  in  Judah,  saying,  21  Hear  now 
this,  O  foolish  people,  and  without  understand- 
ing; that  have  eyes,  and  see  not;  that  have 
ears,  and  hear  not:  22  Fear  ye  not  me?  saith 
Jehovah:  will  ye  not  tremble  at  my  presence, 
who  have  placed  the  sand  for  the  bound  of  the 
sea,  by  a  perpetual  decree,  that  it  cannot  pass 
it?  and  though  the  waves  thereof  toss  them- 
selves, yet  can  they  not  prevail;  though  they 
roar,  yet  can  they  not  pass  over  it.  23  But 
this  people  hath  a  revolting  and  a  rebellious 
heart;     they     are     revolted     and     gone.     24 

18 


Neither  say  they  in  their  heart,  Let  us  now 
fear  Jehovah  our  God,  that  giveth  rain,  both 
the  former  and  the  latter,  in  its  season;  that 
preserveth  unto  us  the  appointed  weeks  of  the 
harvest.  25  Your  iniquities  have  turned  away 
these  things,  and  your  sins  have  withholden 
good  from  you.  26  For  among  my  people  are 
found  wicked  men:  they  watch,  as  fowlers 
lie  in  wait;  they  set  a  trap,  they  catch  men. 
27  As  a  cage  is  full  of  birds,  so  are  their  houses 
full  of  deceit:  therefore  they  are  become  great, 
and  waxed  rich.  28  They  are  waxed  fat,  they 
shine:  yea,  they  overpass  in  deeds  of  wicked- 
ness; they  plead  not  the  cause,  the  cause  of  the 
fatherless,  that  they  may  prosper;  and  the 
right  of  the  needy  do  they  not  judge.  29 
Shall  I  not  visit  for  these  things?  saith  Je- 
hovah; shall  not  my  soul  be  avenged  on  such 
a  nation  as  this? 

30  A  wonderful  and  horrible  thing  is  come 
to  pass  in  the  land:  31  the  prophets  prophesy 
falsely,  and  the  priests  bear  rule  by  their 
means ;  and  my  people  love  to  have  it  so :  and 
what  will  ye  do  in  the  end  thereof? 

CHAPTER  VI 

Flee  for  safety,  ye  children  of  Benjamin, 
out  of  the  midst  of  Jerusalem,  and  blow  the 

19 


trumpet  in  Tekoa,  and  raise  up  a  signal  on 
Beth-haccherem;  for  evil  looketh  forth  from 
the  north,  and  a  great  destruction.  2  The 
comely  and  delicate  one,  the  daughter  of  Zion, 
will  I  cut  ofif.  3  Shepherds  with  their  flocks 
shall  come  unto  her ;  they  shall  pitch  their  tents 
against  her  round  about;  they  shall  feed  every 
one  in  his  place.  4  Prepare  ye  war  against 
her ;  arise,  and  let  us  go  up  at  noon.  Woe  unto 
us!  for  the  day  declineth,  for  the  shadows  of 
the  evening  are  stretched  out.  5  Arise,  and 
let  us  go  up  by  night,  and  let  us  destroy  her 
palaces.  6  For  thus  hath  Jehovah  of  hosts 
said,  Hew  ye  down  trees,  and  cast  up  a  mound 
against  Jerusalem:  this  is  the  city  to  be  vis- 
ited; she  is  wholly  oppression  in  the  midst  of 
her.  7  As  a  well  casteth  forth  its  waters,  so 
she  casteth  forth  her  wickedness;  violence  and 
destruction  is  heard  in  her;  before  me  contin- 
ually is  sickness  and  wounds.  8  Be  thou  in- 
structed, O  Jerusalem,  lest  my  soul  be  alien- 
ated from  thee;  lest  I  make  thee  a  desolation, 
a  land  not  inhabited. 

9  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts.  They  shall 
thoroughly  glean  the  remnant  of  Israel  as  a 
vine:  turn  again  thy  hand  as  a  grape-gatherer 
into  the  baskets.  10  To  whom  shall  I  speak 
and  testify,  that  they  may  hear?  behold,  their 
ear  is  uncircumcised,  and  they  cannot  hearken : 

20 


behold,  the  word  of  Jehovah  is  become  unto 
them  a  reproach;  they  have  no  delight  in  it. 
1 1  Therefore  I  am  full  of  the  wrath  of  Je- 
hovah; I  am  weary  with  holding  in:  pour  it 
out  upon  the  children  in  the  street,  and  upon 
the  assembly  of  young  men  together;  for  even 
the  husband  with  the  wife  shall  be  taken,  the 
aged  with  him  that  is  full  of  days.  12  And 
their  houses  shall  be  turned  unto  others,  their 
fields  and  their  wives  together;  for  I  will 
stretch  out  my  hand  upon  the  inhabitants  of 
the  land,  saith  Jehovah.  13  For  from  the 
least  of  them  even  unto  the  greatest  of  them 
every  one  is  given  to  covetousness ;  and  from 
the  prophet  even  unto  the  priest  every  one 
dealeth  falsely.  14  They  have  healed  also  the 
hurt  of  my  people  slightly,  saying,  Peace, 
peace;  when  there  is  no  peace.  15  Were  they 
ashamed  when  they  had  committed  abomina- 
tion ?  nay,  they  were  not  at  all  ashamed,  neither 
could  they  blush:  therefore  they  shall  fall 
among  them  that  fall;  at  the  time  that  I  visit 
them  they  shall  be  cast  down,  saith  Jehovah. 

16  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  Stand  ye  in  the  ways 
and  see,  and  ask  for  the  old  paths,  where  is  the 
good  way;  and  walk  therein,  and  ye  shall  find 
rest  for  your  souls:  but  they  said.  We  will  not 
walk  therein.  17  And  I  set  watchmen  over 
you,  saying,  Hearken  to  the  sound  of  the  trum- 

21 


pet;  but  they  said,  We  will  not  hearken.  i8 
Therefore  hear,  ye  nations,  and  know,  O  con- 
gregation, what  is  among  them.  19  Hear,  O 
earth:  behold,  I  will  bring  evil  upon  this  peo- 
ple, even  the  fruit  of  their  thoughts,  because 
they  have  not  hearkened  unto  my  words;  and 
as  for  my  law,  they  have  rejected  it.  20  To 
what  purpose  cometh  there  to  me  frankincense 
from  Sheba,  and  the  sweet  cane  from  a  far 
country?  your  burnt-offerings  are  not  accept- 
able, nor  your  sacrifices  pleasing  unto  me.  21 
Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah,  Behold,  I  will 
lay  stumbling-blocks  before  this  people;  and 
the  fathers  and  the  sons  together  shall  stum- 
ble against  them;  the  neighbor  and  his  friend 
shall  perish. 

22  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  Behold,  a  people 
cometh  from  the  north  country;  and  a  great 
nation  shall  be  stirred  up  from  the  uttermost 
parts  of  the  earth.  23  They  lay  hold  on  bow 
and  spear;  they  are  cruel,  and  have  no  mercy; 
their  voice  roareth  like  the  sea,  and  they  ride 
upon  horses,  every  one  set  in  array,  as  a  man 
to  the  battle,  against  thee,  O  daughter  of  Zion. 
24  We  have  heard  the  report  thereof;  our 
hands  wax  feeble:  anguish  hath  taken  hold  of 
us,  and  pangs  as  of  a  woman  in  travail.  25 
Go  not  forth  into  the  field,  nor  walk  by  the 
way;  for  the  sword  of  the  enemy,  and  terror, 

22 


are  on  every  side.  26  O  daughter  of  my  peo- 
ple, gird  thee  with  sackcloth,  and  wallow  thy- 
self in  ashes:  make  thee  mourning,  as  for  an 
only  son,  most  bitter  lamentation;  for  the  de- 
stroyer shall  suddenly  come  upon  us. 

27  I  have  made  thee  a  trier  and  a  fortress 
among  my  people;  that  thou  mayest  know  and 
try  their  way.  28  They  are  all  grievous  re- 
volters,  going  about  with  slanders;  they  are 
brass  and  iron:  they  all  of  them  deal  cor- 
ruptly. 29  The  bellows  blow  fiercely;  the 
lead  is  consumed  of  the  fire:  in  vain  do  they 
go  on  refining  for  the  wicked  are  not  plucked 
away.  30  Refuse  silver  shall  men  call  them^ 
because  Jehovah  hath  rejected  them. 


CHAPTER  VII 

The  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Je- 
hovah, saying,  2  Stand  in  the  gate  of  Je- 
hovah's house,  and  proclaim  there  this  word, 
and  say.  Hear  the  word  of  Jehovah,  all  ye  of 
Judah,  that  enter  in  at  these  gates  to  worship 
Jehovah.  3  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 
the  God  of  Israel,  Amend  your  ways  and  your 
doings,  and  I  will  cause  you  to  dwell  in  this 
place.  4  Trust  ye  not  in  lying  words,  saying. 
The  temple  of  Jehovah,  the  temple  of  Jehovah, 

23 


the  temple  of  Jehovah,  are  these.  5  For  if 
ye  thoroughly  amend  your  ways  and  your  do- 
ings; if  ye  thoroughly  execute  justice  between 
a  man  and  his  neighbor;  6  if  ye  oppress  not 
the  sojourner,  the  fatherless,  and  the  widow, 
and  shed  not  innocent  blood  in  this  place, 
neither  walk  after  other  gods  to  your  own 
hurt:  7  then  will  I  cause  you  to  dwell  in 
this  place,  in  the  land  that  I  gave  to  your 
fathers,  from  of  old  even  for  evermore. 

8  Behold,  ye  trust  in  lying  words,  that  can- 
not profit.  9  Will  ye  steal,  murder,  and  com- 
mit adultery,  and  swear  falsely,  and  burn  in- 
cense unto  Baal,  and  walk  after  other  gods 
that  ye  have  not  known,  10  and  come  and 
stand  before  me  in  this  house,  which  is  called 
by  my  name,  and  say.  We  are  delivered;  that 
ye  may  do  all  these  abominations?  1 1  Is  this 
house,  which  is  called  by  my  name,  become  a 
den  of  robbers  in  your  eyes?  Behold,  I,  even 
I,  have  seen  it,  saith  Jehovah. 

12  But  go  ye  now  unto  my  place  which  was 
in  Shiloh,  where  I  caused  my  name  to  dwell 
at  the  first,  and  see  what  I  did  to  it  for  the 
wickedness  of  my  people  Israel.  13  And 
now,  because  ye  have  done  all  these  works, 
saith  Jehovah,  and  I  spake  unto  you,  rising  up 
early  and  speaking,  but  ye  heard  not;  and  I 
called  you,  but  ye  answered  not:  14  therefore 

24 


will  I  do  unto  the  house  which  is  called  by 
my  name,  wherein  ye  trust,  and  unto  the  place 
which  I  gave  to  you  and  to  your  fathers,  as  I 
did  to  Shiloh.  15  And  I  will  cast  you  out  of 
my  sight,  as  I  have  cast  out  all  your  brethren, 
even  the  whole  seed  of  Ephraim. 

16  Therefore  pray  not  thou  for  this  people, 
neither  lift  up  cry  nor  prayer  for  them,  neither 
make  intercession  to  me;  for  I  will  not  hear 
thee.  17  Seest  thou  not  what  they  do  in  the 
cities  of  Judah  and  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem? 
18  The  children  gather  wood,  and  the  fathers 
kindle  the  fire,  and  the  women  knead  the 
dough,  to  make  cakes  to  the  queen  of  heaven, 
and  to  pour  out  drink-offerings  unto  other 
gods,  that  they  may  provoke  me  to  anger.  19 
Do  they  provoke  me  to  anger?  saith  Jehovah; 
do  they  not  provoke  themselves,  to  the  con- 
fusion of  their  own  faces?  20  Therefore  thus 
saith  the  Lord  Jehovah:  Behold,  mine  anger 
and  my  wrath  shall  be  poured  out  upon  this 
place,  upon  man,  and  upon  beast,  and  upon 
the  trees  of  the  field,  and  upon  the  fruit  of  the 
ground;  and  it  shall  burn,  and  shall  not  be 
quenched. 

21  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
Israel:  Add  your  burnt-ofiferings  unto  your 
sacrifices,  and  eat  ye  flesh.  22  For  I  spake 
not  unto  your  fathers,  nor  commanded  them 

25 


in  the  day  that  I  brought  them  out  of  the  land 
of  Egypt,  concerning  burnt-offerings  or  sacri- 
fices: 23  but  this  thing  I  commanded  them, 
saying,  Hearken  unto  my  voice,  and  I  will  be 
your  God,  and  ye  shall  be  my  people;  and 
walk  ye  in  all  the  way  that  I  command  you, 
that  it  may  be  well  with  you.  24  But  they 
hearkened  not,  nor  inclined  their  ear,  but 
walked  in  their  own  counsels  and  in  the  stub- 
bornness of  their  evil  heart,  and  went  back- 
ward, and  not  forward.  25  Since  the  day  that 
your  fathers  came  forth  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt  unto  this  day,  I  have  sent  unto  you  all 
my  servants  the  prophets,  daily  rising  up  early 
and  sending  them:  26  yet  they  hearkened  not 
unto  me,  nor  inclined  their  ear,  but  made  their 
neck  stiff:  they  did  worse  than  their  fathers. 

27  And  thou  shalt  speak  all  these  words 
unto  them;  but  they  will  not  hearken  to  thee: 
thou  shalt  also  call  unto  them;  but  they  will 
not  answer  thee.  28  And  thou  shalt  say  unto 
them.  This  is  the  nation  that  hath  not  heark- 
ened to  the  voice  of  Jehovah  their  God,  nor 
received  instruction:  truth  is  perished,  and  is 
cut  off  from  their  mouth. 

29  Cut  off  thy  hair,  O  Jerusalem,  and  cast 
it  away,  and  take  up  a  lamentation  on  the  bare 
heights;  for  Jehovah  hath  rejected  and  for- 
saken the  generation  of  his  wrath.     30  For  the 

26 


children  of  Judah  have  done  that  which  is 
evil  in  my  sight,  saith  Jehovah:  they  have  set 
their  abominations  in  the  house  which  is  called 
by  my  name,  to  defile  it.  31  And  they  have 
built  the  high  places  of  Topheth,  which  is  in 
the  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom,  to  burn  their 
sons  and -their  daughters  in  the  fire;  which  I 
commanded  not,  neither  came  it  into  my  mind. 

32  Therefore,  behold,  the  days  come,  saith 
Jehovah,  that  it  shall  no  more  be  called  To- 
pheth, nor  The  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom, 
but  The  valley  of  Slaughter:  for  they  shall 
bury  in  Topheth,  till  there  be  no  place  to  bury. 

33  And  the  dead  bodies  of  this  people  shall  be 
food  for  the  birds  of  the  heavens,  and  for  the 
beasts  of  the  earth;  and  none  shall  frighten 
them  away.  34  Then  will  I  cause  to  cease 
from  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  from  the  streets 
of  Jerusalem,  the  voice  of  mirth  and  the  voice 
of  gladness,  the  voice  of  the  bridegroom  and 
the  voice  of  the  bride;  for  the  land  shall  be- 
come a  waste. 


CHAPTER  VHI 

At  that  time,  saith  Jehovah,  they  shall  bring 
out  the  bones  of  the  kings  of  Judah,  and  the 
bones  of  his  princes,   and   the  bones  of  the 

27 


priests,  and  the  bones  of  the  prophets,  and 
the  bones  of  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  out 
of  their  graves;  2  and  they  shall  spread  them 
before  the  sun,  and  the  moon,  and  all  the  host 
of  heaven,  which  they  have  loved,  and  which 
they  have  served,  and  after  which  they  have 
walked,  and  which  they  have  sought,  and 
which  they  have  worshipped:  they  shall  not 
be  gathered,  nor  be  buried,  they  shall  be  for 
dung  upon  the  face  of  the  earth.  3  And 
death  shall  be  chosen  rather  than  life  by  all  the 
residue  that  remain  of  this  evil  family,  that  re- 
main in  all  the  places  whither  I  have  driven 
them,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

4  Moreover  thou  shalt  say  unto  them.  Thus 
saith  Jehovah:  Shall  men  fall,  and  not  rise 
up  again?  shall  one  turn  away,  and  not  re- 
turn? 5  Why  then  is  this  people  of  Jeru- 
salem slidden  back  by  a  perpetual  backsliding? 
they  hold  fast  deceit,  they  refuse  to  return. 
6  I  hearkened  and  heard,  but  they  spake  not 
aright:  no  man  repenteth  him  of  his  wicked- 
ness, saying.  What  have  I  done?  every  one 
turneth  to  his  course,  as  a  horse  that  rusheth 
headlong  in  the  battle.  7  Yea,  the  stork  in 
the  heavens  knoweth  her  appointed  times;  and 
the  turtle-dove  and  the  swallow  and  the  crane 
observe  the  time  of  their  coming;  but  my 
people  know  not  the  law  of  Jehovah. 

28 


8  How  do  ye  say,  We  are  wise,  and  the  law 
of  Jehovah  is  with  us?  But,  behold,  the  false 
pen  of  the  scribes  hath  wTought  falsely.  9 
The  wise  men  are  put  to  shame,  they  are  dis- 
mayed and  taken:  lo,  they  have  rejected  the 
word  of  Jehovah;  and  what  manner  of  wis- 
dom is  in  them?  10  Therefore  will  I  give 
their  wives  unto  others,  and  their  fields  to 
them  that  shall  possess  them:  for  every  one 
from  the  least  even  unto  the  greatest  is  given  to 
covetousness ;  from  the  prophet  even  unto  the 
priest  every  one  dealeth  falsely.  1 1  And  they 
have  healed  the  hurt  of  the  daughter  of  my 
people  slightly,  saying.  Peace,  peace;  when 
there  is  no  peace.  12  Were  they  ashamed 
when  they  had  committed  abomination?  nay, 
they  were  not  at  all  ashamed,  neither  could 
they  blush:  therefore  shall  they  fall  among 
them  that  fall;  in  the  time  of  their  visitation 
they  shall  be  cast  down,  saith  Jehovah.  13  I 
will  utterly  consume  them,  saith  Jehovah: 
there  shall  be  no  grapes  on  the  vine,  nor  figs 
on  the  fig-tree,  and  the  leaf  shall  fade;  and 
the  things  that  I  have  given  them  shall  pass 
away  from  them. 

14  Why  do  we  sit  still?  assemble  yourselves, 
and  let  us  enter  into  the  fortified  cities,  and  let 
us  be  silent  there;  for  Jehovah  our  God  hath 
put  us  to  silence,  and  given  us  water  of  gall  to 

29 


drink,  because  we  have  sinned  against  Je- 
hovah. 15  We  looked  for  peace,  but  no  good 
came;  and  for  a  time  of  healing,  and,  behold, 
dismay!  16  The  snorting  of  his  horses  is 
heard  from  Dan:  at  the  sound  of  the  neighing 
of  his  strong  ones  the  whole  land  trembleth; 
for  they  are  come,  and  have  devoured  the  land 
and  all  that  is  in  it;  the  city  and  those  that 
dwell  therein.  17  For,  behold,  I  will  send 
serpents,  adders,  among  you,  which  will  not 
be  charmed;  and  they  shall  bite  you,  saith 
Jehovah. 

18  Oh  that  I  could  comfort  myself  against 
sorrow!  my  heart  is  faint  within  me.  19  Be- 
hold, the  voice  of  the  cry  of  the  daughter  of 
my  people  from  a  land  that  is  very  far  off:  Is 
not  Jehovah  in  Zion?  is  not  her  King  in  her? 
Why  have  they  provoked  me  to  anger  with 
their  graven  images,  and  with  foreign  vani- 
ties? 20  The  harvest  is  past,  the  summer  is 
ended,  and  we  are  not  saved.  21  For  the  hurt 
of  the  daughter  of  my  people  am  I  hurt:  I 
mourn;  dismay  hath  taken  hold  on  me.  22  Is 
there  no  balm  in  Gilead?  is  there  no  physician 
there?  why  then  is  not  the  health  of  the  daugh- 
ter of  my  people  recovered? 


30 


CHAPTER  IX 

Oh  that  my  head  were  waters,  and  mine  eyes 
a  fountain  of  tears,  that  I  might  weep  day  and 
night  for  the  slain  of  the  daughter  of  my  peo- 
ple! 2  Oh  that  I  had  in  the  wilderness  a 
lodging-place  of  wayfaring  men;  that  I  might 
leave  my  people,  and  go  from  them!  for  they 
are  all  adulterers,  an  assembly  of  treacherous 
men.  3  And  they  bend  their  tongue,  as  it 
were  their  bow,  for  falsehood;  and  they  are 
grown  strong  in  the  land,  but  not  for  truth: 
for  they  proceed  from  evil  to  evil,  and  they 
know  not  me,  saith  Jehovah.  4  Take  ye  heed 
every  one  of  his  neighbor,  and  trust  ye  not  in 
any  brother;  for  every  brother  will  utterly  sup- 
plant, and  every  neighbor  will  go  about  with 
slanders.  5  And  they  will  deceive  every  one 
his  neighbor,  and  will  not  speak  the  truth: 
they  have  taught  their  tongue  to  speak  lies; 
they  weary  themselves  to  commit  iniquity.  6 
Thy  habitation  is  in  the  midst  of  deceit; 
through  deceit  they  refuse  to  know  me,  saith 
Jehovah. 

7  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  Be- 
hold, I  will  melt  them,  and  try  them;  for  how 
else  should  I  do,  because  of  the  daughter  of 
my  people?     8  Their  tongue  is  a  deadly  ar- 

31 


row;  it  speaketh  deceit:  one  speaketh  peace- 
ably to  his  neighbor  with  his  mouth,  but  in  his 
heart  he  layeth  wait  for  him.  9  Shall  I  not 
visit  them  for  these  things?  saith  Jehovah; 
shall  not  my  soul  be  avenged  on  such  a  nation 
as  this? 

10  For  the  mountains  will  I  take  up  a  weep- 
ing and  wailing,  and  for  the  pastures  of  the 
wilderness  a  lamentation,  because  they  are 
burned  up,  so  that  none  passeth  through ; 
neither  can  men  hear  the  voice  of  the  cattle; 
both  the  birds  of  the  heavens  and  the  beasts 
are  fled,  they  are  gone.  1 1  And  I  will  make 
Jerusalem  heaps,  a  dwelling-place  of  jackals; 
and  I  will  make  the  cities  of  Judah  a  desola- 
tion, without  inhabitant. 

12  Who  is  the  wise  man,  that  may  under- 
stand this?  and  who  is  he  to  whom  the  mouth 
of  Jehovah  hath  spoken,  that  he  may  declare 
it?  wherefore  is  the  land  perished  and  burned 
up  like  a  wilderness,  so  that  none  passeth 
through?  13  And  Jehovah  saith,  Because 
they  have  forsaken  my  law  which  I  set  before 
them,  and  have  not  obeyed  my  voice,  neither 
walked  therein,  14  but  have  walked  after  the 
stubbornness  of  their  own  heart,  and  after  the 
Baalim,  which  their  fathers  taught  them;  15 
therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God 
of  Israel,  Behold,  I  will  feed  them,  even  this 

32 


people,  with  wormwood,  and  give  them  water 
of  gall  to  drink.  i6  I  will  scatter  them  also 
among  the  nations,  whom  neither  they  nor 
their  fathers  have  known;  and  I  will  send  the 
sword  after  them,  till  I  have  consumed  them. 

17  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  Consider 
ye,  and  call  for  the  mourning  women,  that 
they  may  come;  and  send  for  the  skilful 
women,  that  they  may  come:  18  and  let  them 
make  haste,  and  take  up  a  wailing  for  us,  that 
our  eyes  may  run  down  with  tears,  and  our 
eyelids  gush  out  with  waters.  19  For  a  voice 
of  wailing  is  heard  out  of  Zion,  How  are  we 
ruined!  we  are  greatly  confounded,  because  we 
have  forsaken  the  land,  because  they  have  cast 
down  our  dwellings.  20  Yet  hear  the  word 
of  Jehovah,  O  ye  women,  and  let  your  ear  re- 
ceive the  word  of  his  mouth;  and  teach  your 
daughters  wailing,  and  every  one  her  neigh- 
bor lamentation.  21  For  death  is  come  up 
into  our  windows,  it  is  entered  into  our  pal- 
aces; to  cut  off  the  children  from  without,  and 
the  young  men  from  the  streets.  22  Speak, 
Thus  saith  Jehovah,  The  dead  bodies  of  men 
shall  fall  as  dung  upon  the  open  field,  and  as 
the  handful  after  the  harvestman;  and  none 
shall  gather  them. 

23  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  Let  not  the  wise 
man   glory   in   his   wisdom,    neither   let   the 

33 


mighty  man  glory  in  his  might,  let  not  the  rich 
man  glory  in  his  riches;  24  but  let  him  that 
glorieth  glory  in  this,  that  he  hath  understand- 
ing, and  knoweth  me,  that  I  am  Jehovah  who 
exerciseth  lovingkindness,  justice,  and  right- 
eousness, in  the  earth:  for  in  these  things  I  de- 
light, saith  Jehovah. 

25  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 
that  I  will  punish  all  them  that  are  circum- 
cised in  their  uncircumcision :  26  Egypt,  and 
Judah,  and  Edom,  and  the  children  of  Am- 
mon,  and  Moab,  and  all  that  have  the  corners 
of  their  hair  cut  off,  that  dwell  in  the  wilder- 
ness; for  all  the  nations  are  uncircumcised, 
and  all  the  house  of  Israel  are  uncircumcised 
in  heart. 

CHAPTER  X 

Hear  ye  the  word  which  Jehovah  speaketh 
unto  you,  O  house  of  Israel:  2  Thus  saith  Je- 
hovah, Learn  not  the  way  of  the  nations,  and 
be  not  dismayed  at  the  signs  of  heaven;  for 
the  nations  are  dismayed  at  them.  3  For  the 
customs  of  the  peoples  are  vanity;  for  one  cut- 
teth  a  tree  out  of  the  forest,  the  work  of  the 
hands  of  the  workman  with  the  axe.  4  They 
deck  it  with  silver  and  with  gold ;  they  fasten 
it  with  nails  and  with  hammers,  that  it  move 

34 


not.  5  They  are  like  a  palm-tree,  of  turned 
work,  and  speak  not :  they  must  needs  be  borne, 
because  they  cannot  go.  Be  not  afraid  of 
them;  for  they  cannot  do  evil,  neither  is  it  in 
them  to  do  good. 

6  There  is  none  like  unto  thee,  O  Jehovah ; 
thou  art  great,  and  thy  name  is  great  in  might. 
7  Who  should  not  fear  thee,  O  King  of  the 
nations?  for  to  thee  doth  it  appertain;  foras- 
much as  among  all  the  wise  men  of  the  na- 
tions, and  in  all  their  royal  estate,  there  is  none 
like  unto  thee.  8  But  they  are  together  brut- 
ish and  foolish:  the  instruction  of  idols!  it  is 
but  a  stock.  9  There  is  silver  beaten  into 
plates,  which  is  brought  from  Tarshish,  and 
gold  from  Uphaz,  the  work  of  the  artificer 
and  of  the  hands  of  the  goldsmith;  blue  and 
purple  for  their  clothing;  they  are  all  the  work 
of  skilful  men.  10  But  Jehovah  is  the  true 
God;  he  is  the  living  God,  and  an  everlasting 
King:  at  his  wrath  the  earth  trembleth,  and 
the  nations  are  not  able  to  abide  his  indigna- 
tion. 

1 1  Thus  shall  ye  say  unto  them,  the  gods 
that  have  not  made  the  heavens  and  the  earth, 
these  shall  perish  from  the  earth,  and  from 
under  the  heavens. 

12  He  hath  made  the  earth  by  his  power, 
he  hath  established  the  world  by  his  wisdom, 

35 


and  by  his  understanding  hath  he  stretched  out 
the  heavens.  13  When  he  uttereth  his  voice, 
there  is  a  tumult  of  waters  in  the  heavens,  and 
he  causeth  the  vapors  to  ascend  from  the  ends 
of  the  earth ;  he  maketh  lightnings  for  the  rain, 
and  bringeth  forth  the  wind  out  of  his  treas- 
uries. 14  Every  man  is  become  brutish  and 
is  without  knowledge;  every  goldsmith  is  put 
to  shame  by  his  graven  image;  for  his  molten 
image  is  falsehood,  and  there  is  no  breath  in 
them.  15  They  are  vanity,  a  work  of  delu- 
sion: in  the  time  of  their  visitation  they  shall 
perish.  16  The  portion  of  Jacob  is  not  like 
these;  for  he  is  the  former  of  all  things:  and 
Israel  is  the  tribe  of  his  inheritance:  Jehovah 
of  hosts  is  his  name. 

17  Gather  up  thy  wares  out  of  the  land,  O 
thou  that  abidest  in  the  siege.  18  For  thus 
saith  Jehovah,  Behold,  I  will  sling  out  the  in- 
habitants of  the  land  at  this  time,  and  will 
distress  them,  that  they  may  feel  //. 

19  Woe  is  me  because  of  my  hurt!  my 
wound  is  grievous :  but  I  said,  Truly  this  is  my 
grief,  and  I  must  bear  it.  20  My  tent  is  de- 
stroyed, and  all  my  cords  are  broken :  my  chil- 
dren are  gone  forth  from  me,  and  they  are  not: 
there  is  none  to  spread  my  tent  any  more,  and 
to  set  up  my  curtains.  21  For  the  shepherds 
are  become  brutish,  and  have  not  inquired  of 

36 


Jehovah:  therefore  they  have  not  prospered, 
and  all  their  flocks  are  scattered.  22  The 
voice  of  tidings,  behold,  it  cometh,  and  a  great 
commotion  out  of  the  north  country,  to  make 
the  cities  of  Judah  a  desolation,  a  dvs^elling- 
place  of  jackals. 

23  O  Jehovah,  I  know  that  the  way  of  man 
is  not  in  himself;  it  is  not  in  man  that  walketh 
to  direct  his  steps.  24  O  Jehovah,  correct  me, 
but  in  measure;  not  in  thine  anger,  lest  thou 
bring  me  to  nothing.  25  Pour  out  thy  wrath 
upon  the  nations  that  know  thee  not,  and  upon 
the  families  that  call  not  on  thy  name ;  for  they 
have  devoured  Jacob,  yea,  they  have  devoured 
him  and  consumed  him,  and  have  laid  waste 
his  habitation. 

CHAPTER  XI 

The  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Je- 
hovah, saying,  2  Hear  ye  the  words  of  this 
covenant,  and  speak  unto  the  men  of  Judah, 
and  to  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem;  3  and  say 
thou  unto  them.  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God 
of  Israel:  Cursed  be  the  man  that  heareth  not 
the  words  of  this  covenant,  4  which  I  com- 
manded your  fathers  in  the  day  that  I  brought 
them  forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  out  of 
the  iron  furnace,  saying.  Obey  my  voice,  and 

37 


do  them,  according  to  all  which  I  command 
you :  so  shall  ye  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be 
your  God;  5  that  I  may  establish  the  oath 
which  I  sware  unto  your  fathers,  to  give  them 
a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey,  as  at  this 
day.  Then  answered  I,  and  said,  Amen,  O 
Jehovah. 

6  And  Jehovah  said  unto  me,  Proclaim 
all  these  words  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  in 
the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  saying.  Hear  ye  the 
words  of  this  covenant,  and  do  them.  7  For 
I  earnestly  protested  unto  your  fathers  in  the 
day  that  I  brought  them  up  out  of  the  land 
of  Egypt,  even  unto  this  day,  rising  early  and 
protesting,  saying.  Obey  my  voice.  8  Yet 
they  obeyed  not,  nor  inclined  their  ear,  but 
walked  every  one  in  the  stubbornness  of  their 
evil  heart:  therefore  I  brought  upon  them  all 
the  words  of  this  covenant,  which  I  com- 
manded them  to  do,  but  they  did  them  not. 

9  And  Jehovah  said  unto  me,  A  conspiracy 
is  found  among  the  men  of  Judah,  and  among 
the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem.  10  They  are 
turned  back  to  the  iniquities  of  their  fore- 
fathers, who  refused  to  hear  my  words ;  and 
they  are  gone  after  other  gods  to  serve  them : 
the  house  of  Israel  and  the  house  of  Judah 
have  broken  my  covenant  which  I  made  with 
their   fathers.     11  Therefore   thus   saith  Je- 

38 


hovah,  Behold,  I  will  bring  evil  upon  them, 
which  they  shall  not  be  able  to  escape;  and 
they  shall  cry  unto  me,  but  I  will  not  hearken 
unto  them.  12  Then  shall  the  cities  of  Judah 
and  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  go  and  cry 
unto  the  gods  unto  which  they  ofTer  incense: 
but  they  will  not  save  them  at  all  in  the  time 
of  their  trouble.  13  For  according  to  the 
number  of  thy  cities  are  thy  gods,  O  Judah; 
and  according  to  the  number  of  the  streets  of 
Jerusalem  have  ye  set  up  altars  to  the  shame- 
ful thing,  even  altars  to  burn  incense  unto 
Baal. 

14  Therefore  pray  not  thou  for  this  people, 
neither  lift  up  cry  nor  prayer  for  them;  for  I 
will  not  hear  them  in  the  time  that  they  cry 
unto  me  because  of  their  trouble.  15  What 
hath  my  beloved  to  do  in  my  house,  seeing  she 
hath  wrought  lewdness  with  many,  and  the 
holy  flesh  is  passed  from  thee?  when  thou 
doest  evil,  then  thou  rejoicest.  r6  Jehovah 
called  thy  name,  A  green  olive-tree;  fair  with 
goodly  fruit:  with  the  noise  of  a  great  tumult 
he  hath  kindled  fire  upon  it,  and  the  branches 
of  it  are  broken.  17  For  Jehovah  of  hosts, 
who  planted  thee,  hath  pronounced  evil 
against  thee,  because  of  the  evil  of  the  house 
of  Israel  and  of  the  house  of  Judah,  which 
they  have  wrought  for  themselves  in  provok- 

39 


ing  me  to  anger  by  offering  incense  unto  Baal. 
1 8  And  Jehovah  gave  me  knovs^ledge  of  it, 
and  I  knew  it:  then  thou  showedst  me  their 
doings.  19  But  I  was  like  a  gentle  lamb  that 
is  led  to  the  slaughter;  and  I  knew  not  that 
they  had  devised  devices  against  me,  saying, 
Let  us  destroy  the  tree  with  the  fruit  thereof, 
and  let  us  cut  him  off  from  the  land  of  the 
living,  that  his  name  may  be  no  more  remem- 
bered. '  20  But,  O  Jehovah  of  hosts,  who 
judgest  righteously,  who  triest  the  heart  and 
the  mind,  I  shall  see  thy  vengeance  on  them; 
for  unto  thee  have  I  revealed  my  cause.  21 
Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  concerning  the 
men  of  Anathoth,  that  seek  thy  life,  saying, 
Thou  shalt  not  prophesy  in  the  name  of  Je- 
hovah, that  thou  die  not  by  our  hand;  22 
therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts.  Behold, 
I  will  punish  them:  the  young  men  shall  die 
by  the  sword;  their  sons  and  their  daughters 
shall  die  by  famine;  23  and  there  shall  be  no 
remnant  unto  them :  for  I  will  bring  evil  upon 
the  men  of  Anathoth,  even  the  year  of  their 
visitation. 

CHAPTER  XII 

Righteous  art  thou,  O  Jehovah,  when  I 
contend  with  thee;  yet  would  I   reason   the 

40 


cause  with  thee:  wherefore  doth  the  way  of 
the  wicked  prosper?  wherefore  are  all  they 
at  ease  that  deal  very  treacherously?  2  Thou 
hast  planted  them,  yea,  they  have  taken  root; 
they  grow,  yea,  they  bring  forth  fruit:  thou 
art  near  in  their  mouth,  and  far  from  their 
heart.  3  But  thou,  O  Jehovah,  knowest  me; 
thou  seest  me,  and  triest  my  heart  toward  thee : 
pull  them  out  like  sheep  for  the  slaughter,  and 
prepare  them  for  the  day  of  slaughter.  4 
How  long  shall  the  land  mourn,  and  the  herbs 
of  the  whole  country  wither?  for  the  wicked- 
ness of  them  that  dwell  therein,  the  beasts  are 
consumed,  and  the  birds;  because  they  said, 
He  shall  not  see  our  latter  end. 

5  If  thou  hast  run  with  the  footmen,  and 
they  have  wearied  thee,  then  how  canst  thou 
contend  with  horses?  and  though  in  a  land 
of  peace  thou  art  secure,  yet  how  wilt  thou 
do  in  the  pride  of  the  Jordan?  6  For  even 
thy  brethren,  and  the  house  of  thy  father, 
even  they  have  dealt  treacherously  with  thee; 
even  they  have  cried  aloud  after  thee:  believe 
them  not,  though  they  speak  fair  words  unto 
thee. 

7  I  have  forsaken  my  house,  I  have  cast  off 
my  heritage;  I  have  given  the  dearly  beloved 
of  my  soul  into  the  hand  of  her  enemies.  8 
My  heritage  is  become  unto  me  as  a  lion  in 

41 


the  forest:  she  hath  uttered  her  voice  against 
me;  therefore  I  have  hated  her.  9  Is  my 
heritage  unto  me  as  a  speckled  bird  of  prey? 
are  the  birds  of  prey  against  her  round  about? 
go  ye,  assemble  all  the  beasts  of  the  field,  bring 
them  to  devour.  10  Many  shepherds  have 
destroyed  my  vineyard,  they  have  trodden  my 
portion  under  foot,  they  have  made  my  pleas- 
ant portion  a  desolate  wilderness.  1 1  They 
have  made  it  a  desolation;  it  mourneth  unto 
me,  being  desolate ;  the  whole  land  is  made  des- 
olate, because  no  man  layeth  it  to  heart.  12 
Destroyers  are  come  upon  all  the  bare  heights 
in  the  wilderness;  for  the  sword  of  Jehovah 
devoureth  from  the  one  end  of  the  land  even 
to  the  other  end  of  the  land:  no  flesh  hath 
peace.  13  They  have  sown  wheat,  and  have 
reaped  thorns;  they  have  put  themselves  to 
pain,  and  profit  nothing:  and  ye  shall  be 
ashamed  of  your  fruits,  because  of  the  fierce 
anger  of  Jehovah. 

14  Thus  saith  Jehovah  against  all  mine  evil 
neighbors,  that  touch  the  inheritance  which  I 
have  caused  my  people  Israel  to  inherit:  Be- 
hold, I  will  pluck  them  up  from  ofif  their  land, 
and  will  pluck  up  the  house  of  Judah  from 
among  them.  15  And  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
after  that  I  have  plucked  them  up,  I  will  re- 
turn and  have  compassion  on  them;  and  I  will 

42 


bring  them  again,  every  man  to  his  heritage, 
and  every  man  to  his  land.  i6  And  it  shall 
come  to  pass,  if  they  will  diligently  learn  the 
ways  of  my  people,  to  swear  by  my  name,  As 
Jehovah  liveth;  even  as  they  taught  my  peo- 
ple to  swear  by  Baal;  then  shall  they  be  built 
up  in  the  midst  of  my  people.  17  But  if  they 
will  not  hear,  then  will  I  pluck  up  that  na- 
tion, plucking  up  and  destroying  it,  saith  Je- 
hovah. 

CHAPTER  XIII 

Thus  said  Jehovah  unto  me,  Go,  and  buy 
thee  a  linen  girdle,  and  put  it  upon  thy  loins, 
and  put  it  not  in  water.  2  So  I  bought  a  gir- 
dle according  to  the  word  of  Jehovah,  and  put 
it  upon  my  loins.  3  And  the  word  of  Jehovah 
came  unto  me  the  second  time,  saying,  4  Take 
the  girdle  that  thou  hast  bought,  which  is  upon 
thy  loins,  and  arise,  go  to  the  Euphrates,  and 
hide  it  there  in  a  cleft  of  the  rock.  5  So  I 
went,  and  hid  it  by  the  Euphrates,  as  Jehovah 
commanded  me.  6  And  it  came  to  pass  after 
many  days,  that  Jehovah  said  unto  me,  Arise, 
go  to  the  Euphrates,  and  take  the  girdle  from 
thence,  which  I  commanded  thee  to  hide  there. 
7  Then  I  went  to  the  liuphrates,  and  digged, 
and  took  the  girdle  from  the  place  where  I  had 

43 


hid  it;  and,  behold,  the  girdle  was  marred,  it 
was  profitable  for  nothing. 

8  Then  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  unto  me, 
saying,  9  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  After  this  man- 
ner will  I  mar  the  pride  of  Judah,  and  the 
great  pride  of  Jerusalem.  10  This  evil  peo- 
ple, that  refuse  to  hear  my  words,  that  walk 
in  the  stubbornness  of  their  heart,  and  are  gone 
after  other  gods  to  serve  them,  and  to  worship 
them,  shall  even  be  as  this  girdle,  which  is 
profitable  for  nothing.  11  For  as  the  girdle 
cleaveth  to  the  loins  of  a  man,  so  have  I  caused 
to  cleave  unto  me  the  whole  house  of  Israel  and 
the  whole  house  of  Judah,  saith  Jehovah;  that 
they  may  be  unto  me  for  a  people,  and  for  a 
name,  and  for  a  praise,  and  for  a  glory:  but 
they  would  not  hear. 

12  Therefore  thou  shalt  speak  unto  them 
this  word:  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of 
Israel,  Every  bottle  shall  be  filled  with  wine: 
and  they  shall  say  unto  thee.  Do  we  not  cer- 
tainly know  that  every  bottle  shall  be  filled 
with  wine?  13  Then  shalt  thou  say  unto 
them.  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  Behold,  I  will  fill 
all  the  inhabitants  of  this  land,  even  the  kings 
that  sit  upon  David's  throne,  and  the  priests, 
and  the  prophets,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of 
Jerusalem,  with  drunkenness.  14  And  I  will 
dash  them  one  against  another,  even  the  fathers 

44 


And  their  nobles  sent  their  little  ones  to  the  waters;  they  come  to 
the  cisterns,  and  find  no  water;  they  return  with  their  vessels 
empty. — xiv-3. 


and  the  sons  together,  saith  Jehovah :  I  will  not 
pity,  nor  spare,  nor  have  compassion,  that  I 
should  not  destroy  them. 

15  Hear  ye,  and  give  ear;  be  not  proud;  for 
Jehovah  hath  spoken.  16  Give  glory  to  Je- 
hovah your  God,  before  he  cause  darkness,  and 
before  your  feet  stumble  upon  *^he  dark  moun- 
tains, and,  while  ye  look  for  light,  he  turn  it 
into  the  shadow  of  death,  and  make  it  gross 
darkness.  17  But  if  ye  will  not  hear  it,  my 
soul  shall  weep  in  secret  for  your  pride;  and 
mine  eye  shall  weep  sore,  and  run  down  with 
tears,  because  Jehovah's  flock  is  taken  captive. 

18  Say  thou  unto  the  king  and  unto  the 
queen-mother.  Humble  yourselves,  sit  down; 
for  your  headtires  are  come  down,  even  the 
crown  of  your  glory.  19  The  cities  of  the 
South  are  shut  up,  and  there  is  none  to  open 
them :  Judah  is  carried  away  captive,  all  of  it; 
it  is  wholly  carried  away  captive. 

20  Lift  up  your  eyes,  and  behold  them  that 
come  from  the  north :  where  is  the  flock  that 
was  given  thee,  thy  beautiful  flock?  21  What 
wilt  thou  say,  when  he  shall  set  over  thee  as 
head  those  whom  thou  hast  thyself  taught  to  be 
friends  to  thee?  shall  not  sorrows  take  hold  of 
thee,  as  of  a  woman  in  travail?  22  And  if 
thou  say  in  thy  heart,  Wherefore  are  these 
things  come  upon  me?  for  the  greatness  of 

45 


thine  iniquity  are  thy  skirts  uncovered,  and  thy 
heels  sufifer  violence,  23  Can  the  Ethiopian 
change  his  skin,  or  the  leopard  his  spots?  then 
may  ye  also  do  good,  that  are  accustomed  to  do 
evil.  24  Therefore  will  I  scatter  them,  as  the 
stubble  that  passeth  away,  by  the  wind  of  the 
wilderness.  25  This  is  thy  lot,  the  portion 
measured  unto  thee  from  me,  saith  Jehovah; 
because  thou  hast  forgotten  me,  and  trusted 
in  falsehood.  26  Therefore  will  I  also  un- 
cover thy  skirts  upon  thy  face,  and  thy  shame 
shall  appear.  27  I  have  seen  thine  abomina- 
tions, even  thine  adulteries,  and  thy  neighings, 
the  lewdness  of  thy  whoredom,  on  the  hills  in 
the  field.  Woe  unto  thee,  O  Jerusalem!  thou 
wilt  not  be  made  clean;  how  long  shall  it  yet 
be? 

CHAPTER  XIV 

The  word  of  Jehovah  that  came  to  Jere- 
miah concerning  the  drought. 

2  Judah  mourneth,  and  the  gates  thereof 
languish,  they  sit  in  black  upon  the  ground; 
and  the  cry  of  Jerusalem  is  gone  up.  3  And 
their  nobles  send  their  little  ones  to  the  waters : 
they  come  to  the  cisterns,  and  find  no  water; 
they  return  with  their  vessels  empty;  they  are 
put  to  shame  and  confounded,  and  cover  their 

46 


heads.  4  Because  of  the  ground  which  is 
cracked,  for  that  no  rain  hath  been  in  the  land, 
the  plowmen  are  put  to  shame,  they  cover  their 
heads.  5  Yea,  the  hind  also  in  the  field 
calveth,  and  forsaketh  her  young,  because  there 
is  no  grass.  6  And  the  wild  asses  stand  on  the 
bare  heights,  they  pant  for  aii  like  jackals; 
their  eyes  fail,  because  there  is  no  herbage. 

7  Though  our  iniquities  testify  against  us, 
work  thou  for  thy  name's  sake,  O  Jehovah; 
for  our  backslidings  are  many;  we  have  sinned 
against  thee.  8  O  thou  hope  of  Israel,  the 
Saviour  thereof  in  the  time  of  trouble,  why 
shouldest  thou  be  as  a  sojourner  in  the  land, 
and  as  a  wayfaring  man  that  turneth  aside  to 
tarry  for  a  night?  9  Why  shouldest  thou  be 
as  a  man  affrighted,  as  a  mighty  man  that  can- 
not save?  Yet  thou,  O  Jehovah,  art  in  the 
midst  of  us,  and  we  are  called  by  thy  name; 
leave  us  not. 

10  Thus  saith  Jehovah  unto  this  people, 
Even  so  have  they  loved  to  wander;  they  have 
not  refrained  their  feet:  therefore  Jehovah 
doth  not  accept  them;  now  will  he  remember 
their  iniquity,  and  visit  their  sins.  11  And 
Jehovah  said  unto  me.  Pray  not  for  this  people 
for  their  good.  12  When  they  fast,  I  will  not 
hear  their  cry;  and  when  they  offer  burnt- 
offering  and  meal-offering,  I  will  not  accept 

47 


them ;  but  I  will  consume  them  by  the  sword, 
and  by  the  famine,  and  by  the  pestilence. 

13  Then  said  I,  Ah,  Lord  Jehovah!  behold, 
the  prophets  say  unto  them,  Ye  shall  not  see  the 
sword,  neither  shall  ye  have  famine ;  but  I  will 
give  you  assured  peace  in  this  place.  14  Then 
Jehovah  said  unto  me,  The  prophets  prophesy 
lies  in  my  name;  I  sent  them  not,  neither  have 
I  commanded  them,  neither  spake  I  unto 
them:  they  prophesy  unto  you  a  lying  vision, 
and  divination,  and  a  thing  of  naught,  and  the 
deceit  of  their  own  heart.  15  Therefore,  thus 
saith  Jehovah  concerning  the  prophets  that 
prophesy  in  my  name,  and  I  sent  them  not,  yet 
they  say.  Sword  and  famine  shall  not  be  in  this 
land:  By  sword  and  famine  shall  those  proph- 
ets be  consumed.  16  And  the  people  to  whom 
they  prophesy  shall  be  cast  out  in  the  streets 
of  Jerusalem  because  of  the  famine  and  the 
sword ;  and  they  shall  have  none  to  bury  them 
— them,  their  wives,  nor  their  sons,  nor  their 
daughters:  for  I  will  pour  their  wickedness 
upon  them.  17  And  thou  shalt  say  this  word 
unto  them,  Let  mine  eyes  run  down  with  tears 
night  and  day,  and  let  them  not  cease;  for  the 
virgin  daughter  of  my  people  is  broken  with  a 
great  breach,  with  a  very  grievous  wound. 
18  If  I  go  forth  into  the  field,  then  behold,  the 
slain  with  the  sword!  and  if  I  enter  into  the 

48 


city,  then,  behold,  they  that  are  sick  with 
famine!  for  both  the  prophet  and  the  priest  go 
about  in  the  land,  and  have  no  knowledge. 

19  Hast  thou  utterly  rejected  Judah?  hath 
thy  soul  loathed  Zion?  why  hast  thou  smitten 
us,  and  there  is  no  healing  for  us?  We  looked 
for  peace,  but  no  good  came;  anu  for  a  time  of 
healing,  and,  behold,  dismay!  20  We  ac- 
knowledge, O  Jehovah,  our  wickedness,  and 
the  iniquity  of  our  fathers;  for  w^e  have  sinned 
against  thee.  21  Do  not  abhor  us,  for  thy 
name's  sake;  do  not  disgrace  the  throne  of  thy 
glory:  remember,  break  not  thy  covenant  with 
us.  22  Are  there  any  among  the  vanities  of 
the  nations  that  can  cause  rain?  or  can  the 
heavens  give  showers?  art  not  thou  he,  O  Je- 
hovah our  God?  therefore  we  will  wait  for 
thee;  for  thou  hast  made  all  these  things. 


CHAPTER  XV 

Then  said  Jehovah  unto  me,  Though  Moses 
and  Samuel  stood  before  me,  yet  my  mind 
would  not  be  toward  this  people :  cast  them  out 
of  my  sight,  and  let  them  go  forth.  2  And  it 
shall  come  to  pass,  when  they  say  unto  thee. 
Whither  shall  we  go  forth?  then  thou  shalt  tell 
them.  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Such  as  are  for 

49 


death,  to  death ;  and  such  as  are  for  the  sword, 
to  the  sword;  and  such  as  are  for  the  famine, 
to  the  famine;  and  such  as  are  for  captivity,  to 
captivity.  3  And  I  will  appoint  over  them 
four  kinds,  saith  Jehovah:  the  sword  to  slay, 
and  the  dogs  to  tear,   and  the  birds  of  the 

heavens,  and  the  beasts  of  the  earth,  to  devour 

« 

and  to  destroy.  4  And  I  will  cause  them  to  be 
tossed  to  and  fro  among  all  the  kingdoms  of 
the  earth,  because  of  Manasseh,  the  son  of 
Hezekiah,  king  of  Judah,  for  that  which  he 
did  in  Jerusalem. 

5  For  who  will  have  pity  upon  thee,  O 
Jerusalem?  or  who  will  bemoan  thee?  or  who 
will  turn  aside  to  ask  of  thy  welfare?  6  Thou 
hast  rejected  me,  saith  Jehovah,  thou  art  gone 
backward:  therefore  have  I  stretched  out  my 
hand  against  thee,  and  destroyed  thee;  I  am 
weary  with  repenting.  7  And  I  have  win- 
nowed them  with  a  fan  in  the  gates  of  the  land ; 
I  have  bereaved  them  of  children,  I  have  de- 
stroyed my  people;  they  returned  not  from 
their  ways.  8  Their  widows  are  increased  to 
me  above  the  sand  of  the  seas ;  I  have  brought 
upon  them  against  the  mother  of  the  young 
men  a  destroyer  at  noonday:  I  have  caused  an- 
guish and  terrors  to  fall  upon  her  suddenly. 
9  She  that  hath  borne  seven  languisheth;  she 
hath  given  up  the  ghost;  her  sun  is  gone  down 

50 


while  it  was  yet  day;  she  hath  been  put  to 
shame  and  confounded:  and  the  residue  of 
them  will  I  deliver  to  the  sword  before  their 
enemies,  saith  Jehovah. 

10  Woe  is  me,  my  mother,  that  thou  hast 
borne  me  a  man  of  strife  and  a  man  of  conten- 
tion to  the  whole  earth!  I  hav^e  not  lent, 
neither  have  men  lent  to  me;  yet  every  one  of 
them  doth  curse  me. 

1 1  Jehovah  said,  Verily  I  will  strengthen 
thee  for  good ;  verily  I  will  cause  the  enemy  to 
make  supplication  unto  thee  in  the  time  of 
evil  and  in  the  time  of  affliction.  12  Can  one 
break  iron,  even  iron  from  the  north,  and 
brass?  13  Thy  substance  and  thy  treasures 
will  I  give  for  a  spoil  without  price,  and  that 
for  all  thy  sins,  even  in  all  thy  borders.  14 
And  I  will  make  them  to  pass  with  thine  ene- 
mies into  a  land  which  thou  knowest  not;  for  a 
fire  is  kindled  in  mine  anger,  which  shall  burn 
upon  you. 

15  O  Jehovah,  thou  knowest;  remember  me, 
and  visit  me,  and  avenge  me  of  my  persecutors ; 
take  me  not  away  in  thy  longsufifering:  know 
that  for  thy  sake  I  have  suffered  reproach. 
16  Thy  words  were  found,  and  I  did  eat  them; 
and  thy  words  were  unto  me  a  joy  and  the  re- 
joicing of  my  heart:  for  I  am  called  by  thy 
name,  O  Jehovah,  God  of  hosts.     17  I  sat  not 

51 


in  the  assembly  of  them  that  make  merry,  nor 
rejoiced;  I  sat  alone  because  of  thy  hand;  for 
thou  hast  filled  me  with  indignation.  i8 
Why  is  my  pain  perpetual,  and  my  wound  in- 
curable, which  refuseth  to  be  healed?  wilt  thou 
indeed  be  unto  me  as  a  deceitful  brook,  as 
waters  that  fail? 

19  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah,  If  thou 
return,  then  will  I  bring  thee  again,  that  thou 
mayest  stand  before  me;  and  if  thou  take  forth 
the  precious  from  the  vile,  thou  shalt  be  as 
my  mouth:  they  shall  return  unto  thee,  but 
thou  shalt  not  return  unto  them.  20  And  I 
will  make  thee  unto  this  people  a  fortified 
brazen  wall;  and  they  shall  fight  against  thee, 
but  they  shall  not  prevail  against  thee;  for  I 
am  with  thee  to  save  thee  and  to  deliver  thee, 
saith  Jehovah.  21  And  I  will  deliver  thee 
out  of  the  hand  of  the  wicked,  and  I  will  re- 
deem thee  out  of  the  hand  of  the  terrible. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

The  word  of  Jehovah  came  also  unto  me, 
saying,  2  Thou  shalt  not  take  thee  a  wife, 
neither  shalt  thou  have  sons  or  daughters,  in 
this   place.     3  For  thus  saith  Jehovah   con- 

52 


qerning  the  sons  and  concerning  the  daughters 
that  are  born  in  this  place,  and  concerning 
their  mothers  that  bare  them,  and  concerning 
their  fathers  that  begat  them  in  this  land:  4 
They  shall  die  grievous  deaths:  they  shall  not 
be  lamented,  neither  shall  they  be  buried ;  they 
shall  be  as  dung  upon  the  face  of  the  ground; 
and  they  shall  be  consumed  by  the  sword,  and 
by  famine;  and  their  dead  bodies  shall  be  food 
for  the  birds  of  the  heavens,  and  for  the  beasts 
of  the  earth. 

5  For  thus  saith  Jehovah,  Enter  not  into  the 
house  of  mourning,  neither  go  to  lament, 
neither  bemoan  them;  for  I  have  taken  away 
my  peace  from  this  people,  saith  Jehovah,  even 
lovingkindness  and  tender  mercies.  6  Both 
great  and  small  shall  die  in  this  land;  they 
shall  not  be  buried,  neither  shall  men  lament 
for  them,  nor  cut  themselves,  nor  make  them- 
selves bald  for  them;  7  neither  shall  men 
break  bread  for  them  in  mourning,  to  comfort 
them  for  the  dead  ;  neither  shall  men  give  them 
the  cup  of  consolation  to  drink  for  their  father 
or  for  their  mother.  8  And  thou  shalt  not  go 
into  the  house  of  feasting  to  sit  with  them,  to 
eat  and  to  drink.  9  For  thus  saith  Jehovah 
of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel:  Behold,  I  will 
cause  to  cease  out  of  this  place,  before  your 

53 


eyes  and  in  your  days,  the  voice  of  mirth  and 
the  voice  of  gladness,  the  voice  of  the  bride- 
groom and  the  voice  of  the  bride. 

lo  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  thou 
shalt  show  this  people  all  these  words,  and  they 
shall  say  unto  thee,  Wherefore  hath  Jehovah 
pronounced  all  this  great  evil  against  us?  or 
what  is  our  iniquity?  or  what  is  our  sin  that  we 
have  committed  against  Jehovah  our  God? 

11  Then  shalt  thou  say  unto  them,  Because 
your  fathers  have  forsaken  me,  saith  Jehovah, 
and  have  walked  after  other  gods,  and  have 
served  them,  and  have  worshipped  them,  and 
have  forsaken  me,  and  have  not  kept  my  law; 

12  and  ye  have  done  evil  more  than  your 
fathers;  for,  behold,  ye  walk  every  one  after 
the  stubbornness  of  his  evil  heart,  so  that  ye 
hearken  not  unto  me:  13  therefore  will  I  cast 
you  forth  out  of  this  land  into  the  land  that  ye 
have  not  known,  neither  ye  nor  your  fathers; 
and  there  shall  ye  serve  other  gods  day  and 
night;  for  I  will  show  you  no  favor. 

14  Therefore,  behold,  the  days  come,  saith 
Jehovah,  that  it  shall  no  more  be  said.  As  Je- 
hovah liveth,  that  brought  up  the  children  of 
Israel  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt;  15  but.  As 
Jehovah  liveth,  that  brought  up  the  children 
of  Israel  from  the  land  of  the  north,  and  from 
all  the  countries  whither  he  had  driven  them. 

54 


And  I  will  bring  them  again  into  their  land 
that  I  gave  unto  their  fathers. 

i6  Behold,  I  will  send  for  many  fishers, 
saith  Jehovah,  and  they  shall  fish  them  up ;  and 
afterward  I  will  send  for  many  hunters,  and 
they  shall  hunt  them  from  every  mountain,  and 
from  every  hill,  and  out  of  the  clefts  of  the 
rocks.  17  For  mine  eyes  are  upon  all  their 
ways;  they  are  not  hid  from  my  face,  neither  is 
their  iniquity  concealed  from  mine  eyes.  18 
And  first  I  will  recompense  their  iniquity  and 
their  sin  double,  because  they  have  polluted 
my  land  with  the  carcasses  of  their  detestable 
things,  and  have  filled  mine  inheritance  with 
their  abominations. 

19  O  Jehovah,  my  s'-'-ength,  and  my  strong- 
hold, and  my  refuge  in  the  day  of  affliction, 
unto  thee  shall  the  nations  come  from  the  ends 
of  the  earth,  and  shall  say,  Our  fathers  have 
inherited  naught  but  lies,  even  vanity  and 
things  wherein  there  is  no  profit.  20  Shall  a 
man  make  unto  himself  gods,  which  yet  are  no 
gods? 

21  Therefore,  behold,  I  will  cause  them  to 
know,  this  once  will  I  cause  them  to  know  my 
hand  and  my  might;  and  they  shall  know  that 
my  name  is  Jehovah. 

55 


CHAPTER  XVII 

The  sin  of  Judah  is  written  with  a  pen  of 
iron,  and  with  the  point  of  a  diamond:  it  is 
graven  upon  the  tablet  of  their  heart,  and  upon 
the  horns  of  your  altars;  2  whilst  their  chil- 
dren remember  their  altars  and  their  Asherim 
by  the  green  trees  upon  the  high  hills.  3  O 
my  mountain  in  the  field,  I  will  give  thy  sub- 
stance and  all  thy  treasures  for  a  spoil,  and  thy 
high  places,  because  of  sin,  throughout  all  thy 
borders.  4  And  thou,  even  of  thyself,  shalt 
discontinue  from  thy  heritage  that  I  gave  thee ; 
and  I  will  cause  thee  to  serve  thine  enemies  in 
the  land  which  thou  knowest  not:  for  ye  have 
kindled  a  fire  in  mine  anger  which  shall  burn 
for  ever. 

5  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Cursed  is  the  man 
that  trusteth  in  man,  and  maketh  flesh  his  arm, 
and  whose  heart  departeth  from  Jehovah.  6 
For  he  shall  be  like  the  heath  in  the  desert,  and 
shall  not  see  when  good  cometh,  but  shall  in- 
habit the  parched  places  in  the  wilderness,  a 
salt  land  and  not  inhabited.  7  Blessed  is  the 
man  that  trusteth  in  Jehovah,  and  whose  trust 
Jehovah  is.  8  For  he  shall  be  as  a  tree 
planted  by  the  waters,  that  spreadeth  out  its 
roots  by  the  river,  and  shall  not  fear  when  heat 
cometh,  but  its  leaf  shall  be  green;  and  shall 

S6 


not  be  careful  in  the  year  of  drought,  neither 
shall  cease  from  yielding  fruit. 

9  The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things, 
and  it  is  exceedingly  corrupt:  who  can  know 
it?  lo  I,  Jehovah,  search  the  mind,  1  try  the 
heart,  even  to  give  every  man  according  to  his 
ways,  according  to  the  fruit  of  his  doings.  1 1 
As  the  partridge  that  sitteth  on  eggs  which  she 
hath  not  laid,  so  is  he  that  getteth  riches,  and 
not  by  right ;  in  the  midst  of  his  days  they  shall 
leave  him,  and  at  his  end  he  shall  be  a  fool. 

12  A  glorious  throne,  set  on  high  from  the 
beginning,  is  the  place  of  our  sanctuary.     13 

0  Jehovah,  the  hope  of  Israel,  all  that  forsake 
thee  shall  be  put  to  shame.  They  that  depart 
from  me  shall  be  written  in  the  earth,  because 
they  have  forsaken  Jeh  .vah,  the  fountain  of 
living  waters.      14  Heal  me,  O  Jehovah,  and 

1  shall  be  healed;  save  me,  and  I  shall  be 
saved:  for  thou  art  my  praise.  15  Behold, 
they  say  unto  me.  Where  is  the  word  of  Je- 
hovah? let  it  come  now.  16  As  for  mc,  I  have 
not  hastened  from  being  a  shepherd  after  thee ; 
neither  have  I  desired  the  woeful  day;  thou 
knowest:  that  which  came  out  of  my  lips  was 
before  thy  face.  17  Be  not  a  terror  unto  me: 
thou  art  my  refuge  in  the  day  of  evil.  18  Let 
them  be  put  to  shame  that  persecute  me,  but 
let  not  mc  be  put  to  shame;  let  them  be  dis- 

57 


mayed,  but  let  not  me  be  dismayed;  bring 
upon  them  the  day  of  evil,  and  destroy  them 
with  double  destruction. 

19  Thus  said  Jehovah  unto  me:  Go,  and 
stand  in  the  gate  of  the  children  of  the  people, 
whereby  the  kings  of  Judah  come  in,  and  by 
which  they  go  out,  and  in  all  the  gates  of  Jeru- 
salem; 20  and  say  unto  them,  Hear  ye  the 
word  of  Jehovah,  ye  kings  of  Judah,  and  all 
Judah,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem, 
that  enter  in  by  these  gates:  21  Thus  saith  Je- 
hovah, Take  heed  to  yourselves,  and  bear  no 
burden  on  the  sabbath  day,  nor  bring  it  in  by 
the  gates  of  Jerusalem;  22  neither  carry  forth 
a  burden  out  of  your  houses  on  the  sabbath  day, 
neither  do  ye  any  work :  but  hallow  ye  the  sab- 
bath day,  as  I  commanded  your  fathers.  23 
But  they  hearkened  not,  neither  inclined  their 
ear,  but  made  their  neck  stifif,  that  they  might 
not  hear,  and  might  not  receive  instruction. 

24  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  if  ye  diligently 
hearken  unto  me,  saith  Jehovah,  to  bring  in  no 
burden  through  the  gates  of  this  city  on  the 
sabbath  day,  but  to  hallow  the  sabbath  day,  to 
do  no  work  therein;  25  then  shall  there  enter 
in  by  the  gates  of  this  city  kings  and  princes 
sitting  upon  the  throne  of  David,  riding  in 
chariots  and  on  horses,  they,  and  their  princes, 
the  men  of  Judah,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Jeru- 

S8 


salem;  and  this  city  shall  remain  for  ever. 
26  And  they  shall  come  from  the  cities  of 
Judah,  and  from  the  places  round  about  Jeru- 
salem, and  from  the  land  of  Benjamin,  and 
from  the  lowland,  and  from  the  hill-country, 
and  from  the  South,  bringing  burnt- offerings, 
and  sacrifices,  and  meal-offerings,  and  frank- 
incense, and  bringing  sacrifices  of  thanksgiv- 
ing, unto  the  house  of  Jehovah.  27  But  if  ye 
will  not  hearken  unto  me  to  hallow  the  sabbath 
day,  and  not  to  bear  a  burden  and  enter  in  at 
the  gates  of  Jerusalem  on  the  sabbath  day; 
then  will  I  kindle  a  fire  in  the  gates  thereof, 
and  it  shall  devour  the  palaces  of  Jerusalem, 
and  it  shall  not  be  quenched. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

The  word  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from 
Jehovah,  saying,  2  Arise,  and  go  down  to  the 
potter's  house,  and  there  I  will  cause  thee  to 
hear  my  words.  3  Then  I  went  down  to  the 
potter's  house,  and  behold,  he  was  making  a 
work  on  the  wheels.  4  And  when  the  vessel 
that  he  made  of  the  clay  was  marred  in  the 
hand  of  the  potter,  he  made  it  again  another 
vessel,  as  seemed  good  to  the  potter  to  make 
it. 

59 


5  Then  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  me, 
saying,  6  O  house  of  Israel,  cannot  I  do  with 
you  as  this  potter?  saith  Jehovah.  Behold,  as 
the  clay  in  the  potter's  hand,  so  are  ye  in  my 
hand,  O  house  of  Israel.  7  At  what  instant  I 
shall  speak  concerning  a  nation,  and  concern- 
ing a  kingdom,  to  pluck  up  and  to  break  down 
and  to  destroy  it;  8  if  that  nation,  concerning 
which  I  have  spoken,  turn  from  their  evil,  I 
will  repent  of  the  evil  that  I  thought  to  do  unto 
them.  9  And  at  what  instant  I  shall  speak 
concerning  a  nation,  and  concerning  a  king- 
dom, to  build  and  to  plant  it;  10  if  they  do 
that  which  is  evil  in  my  sight,  that  they  obey 
not  my  voice,  then  I  will  repent  of  the  good, 
wherewith  I  said  I  would  benefit  them.  1 1 
Now  therefore,  speak  to  the  men  of  Judah,  and 
to  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  saying.  Thus 
saith  Jehovah:  Behold,  I  frame  evil  against 
you,  and  devise  a  device  against  you:  return 
ye  now  every  one  from  his  evil  way,  and  amend 
your  ways  and  your  doings.  12  But  they  say. 
It  is  in  vain;  for  we  will  walk  after  our  own 
devices,  and  we  will  do  every  one  after  the 
stubbornness  of  his  evil  heart. 

13  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah:  Ask  ye 
now  among  the  nations,  who  hath  heard  such 
things;  the  virgin  of  Israel  hath  done  a  very 
horrible  thing.     14  Shall  the  snow  of  Lebanon 

60 


The  word  which  caiiu-  to  Jtrciniah  from  Jfliova,  sayiiii;,  2  \r\>v 
and  go  down  tc  tht-  potter  s  lioiise.  aiul  there  I  will  eau>e 
thee  to  heat   iiiv  words,      xviii-l. 


fail  from  the  rock  of  the  field?  or  shall  the  cold 
waters  that  flow  down  from  afar  be  dried  up? 
15  For  my  people  have  forgotten  me,  they 
have  burned  incense  to  false  gods\  and  they 
have  been  made  to  stumble  in  their  ways,  in 
the  ancient  paths,  to  walk  in  bypaths,  in  a  way 
not  cast  up ;  16  to  make  their  land  an  astonish- 
ment, and  a  perpetual  hissing;  every  one  that 
passeth  thereby  shall  be  astonished,  and  shake 
his  head.  17  I  will  scatter  them  as  with  an 
east  wind  before  the  enemy;  I  will  show  them 
the  back,  and  not  the  face,  in  the  day  of  their 
calamity. 

18  Then  said  they,  Come,  and  let  us  devise 
devices  against  Jeremiah ;  for  the  law  shall  not 
perish  from  the  priest,  nor  counsel  from  the 
wise,  nor  the  word  from  the  prophet.  Come, 
and  let  us  smite  him  with  the  tongue,  and  let 
us  not  give  heed  to  any  of  his  words. 

19  Give  heed  to  me,  O  Jehovah,  and 
hearken  to  the  voice  of  them  that  contend  with 
me.  20  Shall  evil  be  recompensed  for  good? 
for  they  have  digged  a  pit  for  my  soul.  Re- 
member how  I  stood  before  thee  to  speak  good 
for  them,  to  turn  away  thy  wrath  from  them. 
21  Therefore  deliver  up  their  children  to  the 
famine,  and  give  them  over  to  the  power  of  the 
sword;  and  let  their  wives  become  childless, 
and  widows;  and   let  their  men  be  slain  of 

61 


death,  and  their  young  men  smitten  of  the 
sword  in  battle.  22  Let  a  cry  be  heard  from 
their  houses,  when  thou  shalt  bring  a  troop 
suddenly  upon  them;  for  they  have  digged  a 
pit  to  take  me,  and  hid  snares  for  my  feet.  23 
Yet,  Jehovah,  thou  knowest  all  their  counsel 
against  me  to  slay  me;  forgive  not  their 
iniquity,  neither  blot  out  their  sin  from  thy 
sight;  but  let  them  be  overthrown  before  thee; 
deal  thou  with  them  in  the  time  of  thine  anger. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

Thus  said  Jehovah,  Go,  and  buy  a  potter's 
earthen  bottle,  and  take  of  the  elders  of  the 
people,  and  of  the  elders  of  the  priests;  2  and 
go  forth  into  the  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom, 
which  is  by  the  entry  of  the  gate  Harsith,  and 
proclaim  there  the  words,  that  I  shall  tell 
thee ;  3  and  say.  Hear  ye  the  word  of  Jehovah, 
O  kings  of  Judah,  and  inhabitants  of  Jeru- 
salem :  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
Israel,  Behold,  I  will  bring  evil  upon  this 
place,  which  whosoever  heareth,  his  ears  shall 
tingle.  4  Because  they  have  forsaken  me,  and 
have  estranged  this  place,  and  have  burned  in- 
cense in  it  unto  other  gods,  that  they  knew  not, 
they  and  their  fathers  and  the  kings  of  Judah, 

62 


and  have  filled  this  place  with  the  blood  of 
innocents,  5  and  have  built  the  high  places  of 
Baal,  to  burn  their  sons  in  the  fire  for  burnt- 
offerings  unto  Baal;  which  I  commanded  not, 
nor  spake  it,  neither  came  it  into  my  mind: 
6  therefore,  behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Je- 
hovah, that  this  place  shall  no  more  be  called 
Topheth,  nor  The  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom, 
but  the  valley  of  Slaughter.  7  And  I  will 
make  void  the  counsel  of  Judah  and  Jerusalem 
in  this  place;  and  I  will  cause  them  to  fall  by 
the  sword  before  their  enemies,  and  by  the 
hand  of  them  that  seek  their  life:  and  their 
dead  bodies  will  I  give  to  be  food  for  the  birds 
of  the  heavens,  and  for  the  beasts  of  the  earth. 
8  And  I  will  make  this  city  an  astonishment, 
and  a  hissing;  every  one  that  passeth  thereby 
shall  be  astonished  and  hiss  because  of  all  the 
plagues  thereof.  9  And  I  will  cause  them  to 
eat  the  flesh  of  their  sons  and  the  flesh  of  their 
daughters;  and  they  shall  eat  every  one  the 
flesh  of  his  friend,  in  the  siege  and  in  the  dis- 
tress, wherewith  their  enemies,  and  they  that 
seek  their  life,  shall  distress  them. 

10  Then  shalt  thou  break  the  bottle  in  the 
sight  of  the  men  that  go  with  thee,  1 1  and  shalt 
say  unto  them,  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts: 
Even  so  will  I  break  this  people  and  this  city, 
as  one  breaketh  a  potter's  vessel,  that  cannot  be 

63 


made  whole  again;  and  they  shall  bury  in  To- 
pheth,  till  there  be  no  place  to  bury.  12  Thus 
will  I  do  unto  this  place,  saith  Jehovah,  and  to 
the  inhabitants  thereof,  even  making  this  city 
as  Topheth:  13  and  the  houses  of  Jerusalem, 
and  the  houses  of  the  kings  of  Judah,  which 
are  defiled,  shall  be  as  the  place  of  Topheth, 
even  all  the  houses  upon  whose  roofs  they  have 
burned  incense  unto  all  the  host  of  heaven,  and 
have  poured  out  drink-offerings  unto  other 
gods. 

14  Then  came  Jeremiah  from  Topheth, 
whither  Jehovah  had  sent  him  to  prophesy; 
and  he  stood  in  the  court  of  Jehovah's  house, 
and  said  to  all  the  people:  15  Thus  saith  Je- 
hovah of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  Behold,  I 
will  bring  upon  this  city  and  upon  all  its  towns 
all  the  evil  that  I  have  pronounced  against  it; 
because  they  have  made  their  neck  stifif,  that 
they  may  not  hear  my  words. 


CHAPTER  XX 

Now  Pashhur,  the  son  of  Immer  the  priest, 
who  was  chief  officer  in  the  house  of  Jehovah, 
heard  Jeremiah  prophesying  these  things.  2 
Then  Pashhur  smote  Jeremiah  the  prophet,. 
and  put  him  in  the  stocks  that  were  in  the 

64 


upper  gate  of  Benjamin,  which  was  in  the 
house  of  Jehovah.  3  And  it  came  to  pass  on 
the  morrow,  that  Pashhur  brought  forth  Jere- 
miah out  of  the  stocks.  Then  said  Jeremiah 
unto  him,  Jehovah  hath  not  called  thy  name 
Pashhur,  but  Magor-missabib.  4  For  thus 
saith  Jehovah,  Behold,  I  will  make  thee  a  ter- 
ror to  thyself,  and  to  all  thy  friends;  and  they 
shall  fall  by  the  sword  of  their  enemies,  and 
thine  eyes  shall  behold  it;  and  I  will  give  all 
Judah  into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon, 
and  he  shall  carry  them  captive  to  Babylon, 
and  shall  slay  them  with  the  sword.  5  More- 
over I  will  give  all  the  riches  of  this  city,  and 
all  the  gains  thereof,  and  all  the  precious 
things  thereof,  yea,  all  the  treasures  of  the 
kings  of  Judah  will  I  give  mto  the  hand  of 
their  enemies;  and  they  shall  make  them  a 
prey,  and  take  them,  and  carry  them  to  Baby- 
lon. 6  And  thou,  Pashhur,  and  all  that  dwell 
in  thy  house  shall  go  into  captivity;  and  thou 
shalt  come  to  Babylon,  and  there  thou  shalt 
die,  and  there  shalt  thou  be  buried,  thou,  and 
all  thy  friends,  to  whom  thou  hast  prophesied 
falsely. 

7  O  Jehovah,  thou  hast  persuaded  me,  and 
I  was  persuaded ;  thou  art  stronger  than  I,  and 
hast  prevailed:  I  am  become  a  laughing-stock 
all  the  day,  every  one  mocketh  me.     8  For  as 

65 


often  as  I  speak,  I  cry  out;  I  cry,  Violence  and 
destruction!  because  the  word  of  Jehovah  is 
made  a  reproach  unto  me,  and  a  derision,  all 
the  day.  9  And  if  I  say,  I  will  not  make  men- 
tion of  him,  nor  speak  any  more  in  his  name, 
then  there  is  in  my  heart  as  it  were  a  burning 
fire  shut  up  in  my  bones,  and  I  am  weary  with 
forbearing,  and  I  cannot  contain.  10  For  I 
have  heard  the  defaming  of  many,  terror  on 
every  side.  Denounce,  and  we  will  denounce 
him,  say  all  my  familiar  friends,  they  that 
watch  for  my  fall;  peradventure  he  will  be 
persuaded,  and  we  shall  prevail  against  him, 
and  we  shall  take  our  revenge  on  him.  1 1 
But  Jehovah  is  with  me  as  a  mighty  one  and  a 
terrible:  therefore  my  persecutors  shall  stum- 
ble, and  they  shall  not  prevail;  they  shall  be 
utterly  put  to  shame,  because  they  have  not 
dealt  wisely,  even  with  an  everlasting  dishonor 
which  shall  never  be  forgotten.  12  But,  O 
Jehovah  of  hosts,  that  triest  the  righteous,  that 
seest  the  heart  and  the  mind,  let  me  see  thy 
vengeance  on  them;  for  unto  thee  have  I  re- 
vealed my  cause.  13  Sing  unto  Jehovah, 
praise  ye  Jehovah;  for  he  hath  delivered  the 
soul  of  the  needy  from  the  hand  of  evil-doers. 
14  Cursed  be  the  day  wherein  I  was  born: 
let  not  the  day  wherein  my  mother  bare  me  be 
blessed.     15  Cursed  be  the  man  who  brought 

66 


tidings  to  my  father,  saying,  A  man-child  is 
born  unto  thee;  making  him  very  glad.  i6 
And  let  that  man  be  as  the  cities  which  Je- 
hovah overthrew,  and  repented  not:  and  let 
him  hear  a  cry  in  the  morning,  and  shouting  at 
noontime;  17  because  he  slew  me  not  from  the 
womb;  and  so  my  mother  would  have  been  my 
grave,  and  her  womb  always  great.  18 
Wherefore  came  I  forth  out  of  the  womb  to  see 
labor  and  sorrow,  that  my  days  should  be  con- 
sumed with  shame? 

CHAPTER  XXI 

The  word  which  came  unto  Jeremiah  from 
Jehovah,  when  king  Zedekiah  sent  unto  him 
Pashhur  the  son  of  Malchijah,  and  Zephaniah 
the  son  of  Maaseiah,  the  priest,  saying,  2  In- 
quire, I  pray  thee,  of  Jehovah  for  us;  for 
Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon  maketh  war 
against  us:  peradventure  Jehovah  will  deal 
with  us  according  to  all  his  wondrous  works, 
that  he  may  go  up  from  us. 

3  Then  said  Jeremiah  unto  them.  Thus 
shall  ye  say  to  Zedekiah:  4  Thus  saith  Je- 
hovah, the  God  of  Israel,  Behold,  I  will  turn 
back  the  weapons  of  war  that  arc  in  your 
hands,  wherewith  ye  fight  against  the  king  of 
Babylon,  and  against  the  Chaldeans  that  be- 

67 


siege  you,  without  the  walls;  and  I  will  gather 
them  into  the  midst  of  this  city.  5  And  I  my- 
self will  fight  against  you  with  an  outstretched 
hand  and  with  a  strong  arm,  even  in  anger,  and 
in  wrath,  and  in  great  indignation.  6  And  I 
will  smite  the  inhabitants  of  this  city,  both  man 
and  beast:  they  shall  die  of  a  great  pestilence. 
7  And  afterward,  saith  Jehovah,  I  will  de- 
liver Zedekiah  king  of  Judah,  and  his  servants, 
and  the  people,  even  such  as  are  left  in  this 
city  from  the  pestilence,  from  the  sword,  and 
from  the  famine,  into  the  hand  of  Nebuchad- 
rezzar king  of  Babylon,  and  into  the  hand  of 
their  enemies,  and  into  the  hand  of  those  that 
seek  their  life:  and  he  shall  smite  them  with 
the  edge  of  the  sword ;  he  shall  not  spare  them, 
neither  have  pity,  nor  have  mercy. 

8  And  unto  this  people  thou  shalt  say.  Thus 
saith  Jehovah:  Behold,  I  set  before  you  the 
way  of  life  and  the  way  of  death.  9  He  that 
abideth  in  this  city  shall  die  by  the  sword,  and 
by  the  famine,  and  by  the  pestilence;  but  he 
that  goeth  out,  and  passeth  over  to  the  Chal- 
deans that  besiege  you,  he  shall  live,  and  his 
life  shall  be  unto  him  for  a  prey.  10  For  I 
have  set  my  face  upon  this  city  for  evil,  and 
not  for  good,  saith  Jehovah:  it  shall  be  given 
into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  he 
shall  burn  it  with  fire. 

68 


The  word  which  came  unto  Jeremiah  from  Jehova,  when  King 
Zedekiah  sent  unto  him  Pashhur  the  son  of  Malchijah,  and 
Zephaniah  the  son  of  Maaseiah  the  priest. — xxi-1. 


1 1  And  touching  the  house  of  the  king  of 
Judah,  hear  ye  the  word  of  Jehovah:  12  O 
house  of  David,  thus  saith  Jehovah,  Execute 
justice  in  the  morning,  and  deliver  him  that  is 
robbed  out  of  the  hand  of  the  oppressor,  lest 
my  wrath  go  forth  like  fire,  and  burn  so  that 
none  can  quench  it,  because  of  the  evil  of  your 
doings.  13  Behold,  I  am  against  thee,  O  in- 
habitant of  the  valley,  and  of  the  rock  of  the 
plain,  saith  Jehovah;  you  that  say,  Who  shall 
come  down  against  us?  or  who  shall  enter  into 
our  habitations?  14  And  I  will  punish  you 
according  to  the  fruit  of  your  doings,  saith  Je- 
hovah; and  I  will  kindle  a  fire  in  her  forest, 
and  it  shall  devour  all  that  is  round  about  her. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

Thus  said  Jehovah :  Go  down  to  the  house 
of  the  king  of  Judah,  and  speak  there  this 
word,  2  and  say,  Hear  the  word  of  Jehovah, 
O  king  of  Judah,  that  sittest  upon  the  throne 
of  David,  thou,  and  thy  servants,  and  thy  peo- 
ple that  enter  in  by  these  gates.  3  Thus  saith 
Jehovah:  Execute  ye  justice  and  righteousness, 
and  deliver  him  that  is  robbed  out  of  the  hand 
of  the  oppressor:  and  do  no  wrong,  do  no  vio- 
lence, to  the  sojourner,  the  fatherless,  nor  the 

69 


widow;  neither  shed  innocent  blood  in  this 
place.  4  For  if  ye  do  this  thing  indeed,  then 
shall  there  enter  in  by  the  gates  of  this  house 
kings  sitting  upon  the  throne  of  David,  riding 
in  chariots  and  on  horses,  he,  and  his  servants, 
and  his  people.  5  But  if  ye  will  not  hear 
these  words,  I  swear  by  myself,  saith  Jehovah, 
that  this  house  shall  become  a  desolation.  6 
For  thus  saith  Jehovah  concerning  the  house 
of  the  king  of  Judah:  Thou  art  Gilead  unto 
me,  and  the  head  of  Lebanon ;  yet  surely  I  will 
make  thee  a  wilderness,  and  cities  which  are 
not  inhabited.  7  And  I  will  prepare  destroy- 
ers against  thee,  every  one  with  his  weapons; 
and  they  shall  cut  down  thy  choice  cedars,  and 
cast  them  into  the  fire.  8  And  many  nations 
shall  pass  by  this  city,  and  they  shall  say  every 
man  to  his  neighbor.  Wherefore  hath  Jehovah 
done  thus  unto  this  great  city?  9  Then  they 
shall  answer,  Because  they  forsook  the  cove- 
nant of  Jehovah  their  God,  and  worshipped 
other  gods,  and  served  them. 

10  Weep  ye  not  for  the  dead,  neither  be- 
moan him;  but  weep  sore  for  him  that  goeth 
away;  for  he  shall  return  no  more,  nor  see  his 
native  country.  1 1  For  thus  saith  Jehovah 
touching  Shallum  the  son  of  Josiah,  king  of 
Judah,  who  reigned  instead  of  Josiah  his 
father,  and  who  went  forth  out  of  this  place: 

70 


He  shall  not  return  thither  any  more;  12  but 
in  the  place  whither  they  have  led  him  captive, 
there  shall  he  die,  and  he  shall  see  this  land 
no  more. 

13  Woe  unto  him  that  buildeth  his  house  by 
unrighteousness,  and  his  chambers  by  injus- 
tice; that  useth  his  neighbor's  service  without 
wages,  and  giveth  him  not  his  hire;  14  that 
saith,  I  will  build  me  a  wide  house  and  spa- 
cious chambers,  and  cutteth  him  out  windows; 
and  it  is  ceiled  with  cedar,  and  painted  with 
vermilion.  15  Shalt  thou  reign,  because  thou 
strivest  to  excel  in  cedar?  Did  not  thy  father 
eat  and  drink,  and  do  justice  and  righteous- 
ness? then  it  was  well  with  him.  16  He 
judged  the  cause  of  the  poor  and  needy;  then 
it  was  well.  Was  not  this  to  '.now  me?  saith 
Jehovah.  17  But  thine  eyes  and  thy  heart  are 
not  but  for  thy  covetousness,  and  for  shedding 
innocent  blood,  and  for  oppression,  and  for 
violence,  to  do  it.  18  Therefore  thus  saith 
Jehovah  concerning  Jehoiakim  the  son  of 
Josiah,  king  of  Judah:  They  shall  not  lament 
for  him,  saying,  Ah  my  brother!  or.  Ah  sister! 
They  shall  not  lament  for  him,  saying,  Ah 
lord!  or,  Ah  his  glory!  19  He  shall  be  buried 
with  the  burial  of  an  ass,  drawn  and  cast  forth 
beyond  the  gates  of  Jerusalem. 

20  Go  up  to  Lebanon,  and  cry;  and  lift  up 

71 


thy  voice  in  Bashan,  and  cry  from  Abarim; 
for  all  thy  lovers  are  destroyed.  21  I  spake 
unto  thee  in  thy  prosperity;  but  thou  saidst,  I 
will  not  hear.  This  hath  been  thy  manner 
from  thy  youth,  that  thou  obeyedst  not  my 
voice.  22  The  wind  shall  feed  all  thy  shep- 
herds, and  thy  lovers  shall  go  into  captivity: 
surely  then  shalt  thou  be  ashamed  and  con- 
founded for  all  thy  wickedness.  23  O  inhabi- 
tant of  Lebanon,  that  makest  thy  nest  in  the 
cedars,  how  greatly  to  be  pitied  shalt  thou  be 
when  pangs  come  upon  thee,  the  pain  as  of  a 
woman  in  travail! 

24  As  I  live,  saith  Jehovah,  though  Coniah 
the  son  of  Jehoiakim  king  of  Judah  were  the 
signet  upon  my  right  hand,  yet  would  I  pluck 
thee  thence;  25  and  I  will  give  thee  into  the 
hand  of  them  that  seek  thy  life,  and  into  the 
hand  of  them  of  whom  thou  art  afraid,  even 
into  the  hand  of  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of 
Babylon,  and  into  the  hand  of  the  Chaldeans. 
26  And  I  will  cast  thee  out,  and  thy  mother 
that  bare  thee,  into  another  country,  where  ye 
were  not  born;  and  there  shall  ye  die.  27 
But  to  the  land  whereunto  their  soul  longeth 
to  return,  thither  shall  they  not  return.  28  Is 
this  man  Coniah  a  despised  broken  vessel?  is 
he  a  vessel  wherein  none  delighteth?  where- 
fore are  they  cast  out,  he  and  his  seed,  and  are 

72 


cast  into  the  land  which  they  know  not?  29 
O  earth,  earth,  earth,  hear  the  word  of  Je- 
hovah. 30  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  Write  ye  this 
man  childless,  a  man  that  shall  not  prosper  in 
his  days;  for  no  more  shall  a  man  of  his  seed 
prosper,  sitting  upon  the  throne  of  David,  and 
ruling  in  Judah. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

Woe  unto  the  shepherds  that  destroy  and 
scatter  the  sheep  of  my  pasture!  saith  Jehovah. 
2  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of 
Israel,  against  the  shepherds  that  feed  my  peo- 
ple: Ye  have  scattered  my  flock,  and  driven 
them  away,  and  have  not  visitea  them;  behold, 
I  will  visit  upon  you  the  evil  of  your  doings, 
saith  Jehovah.  3  And  I  will  gather  the  rem- 
nant of  my  flock  out  of  all  the  countries 
whither  I  have  driven  them,  and  will  bring 
them  again  to  their  folds;  and  they  shall  be 
fruitful  and  multiply.  4  And  I  will  set  up 
shepherds  over  them,  who  shall  feed  them;  and 
they  shall  fear  no  more,  nor  be  dismayed, 
neither  shall  any  be  lacking,  saith  Jehovah. 

5  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah,  that 
I  will  raise  unto  David  a  righteous  Branch, 
and  he  shall  reign  as  king  and  deal  wisely,  and 

73 


shall  execute  justice  and  righteousness  in  the 
land.  6  In  his  days  Judah  shall  be  saved,  and 
Israel  shall  dwell  safely;  and  this  is  his  name 
whereby  he  shall  be  called :  Jehovah  our  right- 
eousness. 7  Therefore,  behold,  the  days 
come,  saith  Jehovah,  that  they  shall  no  more 
say.  As  Jehovah  liveth,  who  brought  up  the 
children  of  Israel  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt; 
8  but.  As  Jehovah  liveth,  who  brought  up  and 
who  led  the  seed  of  the  house  of  Israel  out  of 
the  north  country,  and  from  all  the  countries 
whither  I  had  driven  them.  And  they  shall 
dwell  in  their  own  land. 

9  Concerning  the  prophets.  My  heart 
within  me  is  broken,  all  my  bones  shake;  I  am 
like  a  drunken  man,  and  like  a  man  whom 
wine  hath  overcome,  because  of  Jehovah,  and 
because  of  his  holy  words.  lo  For  the  land 
is  full  of  adulterers;  for  because  of  swearing 
the  land  mourneth;  the  pastures  of  the  wilder- 
ness are  dried  up.  And  their  course  is  evil, 
and  their  might  is  not  right;  ii  for  both 
prophet  and  priest  are  profane;  yea,  in  my 
house  have  I  found  their  wickedness,  saith  Je- 
hovah. 12  Wherefore  their  way  shall  be  unto 
them  as  slippery  places  in  the  darkness:  they 
shall  be  driven  on,  and  fall  therein;  for  I  will 
bring  evil  upon  them,  even  the  year  of  their 
visitation,  saith  Jehovah. 

74 


13  And  I  have  seen  folly  in  the  prophets  of 
Samaria;  they  prophesied  by  Baal,  and  caused 
my  people  Israel  to  err.  14  In  the  prophets 
of  Jerusalem  also  I  have  seen  a  horrible  thing: 
they  commit  adultery,  and  walk  in  lies;  and 
they  strengthen  the  hands  of  evil-doers,  so  that 
none  doth  return  from  his  wickedness :  they  are 
all  of  them  become  unto  me  as  Sodom,  and  the 
inhabitants  thereof  as  Gomorrah.  15  There- 
fore thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts  concerning  the 
prophets:  Behold,  I  will  feed  them  with 
wormwood,  and  make  them  drink  the  water  of 
gall ;  for  from  the  prophets  of  Jerusalem  is  un- 
godliness gone  forth  into  all  the  land. 

16  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  Hearken 
not  unto  the  words  of  the  prophets  that  proph- 
esy unto  you  :  they  teach  you  var-ty ;  they  speak 
a  vision  of  their  own  heart,  and  not  out  of  the 
mouth  of  Jehovah.  17  They  say  continually 
unto  them  that  despise  me,  Jehovah  hath  said, 
Ye  shall  have  peace;  and  unto  every  one  that 
walketh  in  the  stubbornness  of  his  own  heart 
they  say.  No  evil  shall  come  upon  you.  18 
For  who  hath  stood  in  the  council  of  Jehovah, 
that  he  should  perceive  and  hear  his  word? 
who  hath  marked  my  word,  and  heard  it? 
19  Behold,  the  tempest  of  Jehovah,  even  his 
wrath,  is  gone  forth,  yea,  a  whirling  tempest: 
it  shall  burst  upon  the  head  of  the  wicked. 

75 


20  The  anger  of  Jehovah  shall  not  return,  un- 
til he  have  executed,  and  till  he  have  per- 
formed the  intents  of  his  heart:  in  the  latter 
days  ye  shall  understand  it  perfectly.  21  I 
sent  not  these  prophets,  yet  they  ran:  I  spake 
not  unto  them,  yet  they  prophesied.  22  But 
if  they  had  stood  in  my  council,  then  had  they 
caused  my  people  to  hear  my  words,  and  had 
turned  them  from  their  evil  way,  and  from  the 
evil  of  their  doings. 

23  Am  I  a  God  at  hand,  saith  Jehovah,  and 
not  a  God  afar  off  ?  24  Can  any  hide  himself 
in  secret  places  so  that  I  shall  not  see  him? 
saith  Jehovah.  Do  not  I  fill  heaven  and 
earth?  saith  Jehovah.  25  I  have  heard  what 
the  prophets  have  said,  that  prophesy  lies  in 
my  name,  saying,  I  have  dreamed,  I  have 
dreamed.  26  How  long  shall  this  be  in 
the  heart  of  the  prophets  that  prophesy  lies, 
even  the  prophets  of  the  deceit  of  their 
own  heart?  27  that  think  to  cause  my  people 
to  forget  my  name  by  their  dreams  which 
they  tell  every  man  to  his  neighbor,  as 
their  fathers  forgat  my  name  for  Baal.  28 
The  prophet  that  hath  a  dream,  let  him  tell  a 
dream;  and  he  that  hath  my  words,  let  him 
speak  my  word  faithfully.  What  is  the  straw 
to  the  wheat?  saith  Jehovah.  29  Is  not  my 
word  like  fire?  saith  Jehovah;  and  like  a  ham- 

76 


mer  that  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces?  30 
Therefore,  behold,  I  am  against  the  prophets, 
saith  Jehovah,  that  steal  my  words  every  one 
from  his  neighbor.  31  Behold,  I  am  against 
the  prophets,  saith  Jehovah,  that  use  their 
tongues,  and  say,  He  saith.  32  Behold,  I  am 
against  them  that  prophesy  lying  dreams,  saith 
Jehovah,  and  do  tell  them,  and  cause  my  peo- 
ple to  err  by  their  lies,  and  by  their  vain  boast- 
ing :  yet  I  sent  them  not,  nor  commanded  them ; 
neither  do  they  profit  this  people  at  all,  saith 
Jehovah. 

33  And  when  this  people,  or  the  prophets, 
or  a  priest,  shall  ask  thee,  saying,  What  is  the 
burden  of  Jehovah?  then  shalt  thou  say  unto 
them.  What  burden!  I  will  cast  you  ofif,  saith 
Jehovah.  34  And  as  for  the  pr.phet,  and  the 
priest,  and  the  people,  that  shall  say.  The  bur- 
den of  Jehovah,  I  will  even  punish  that  man 
and  his  house.  35  Thus  shall  ye  say  every 
one  to  his  neighbor,  and  every  one  to  his 
brother.  What  hath  Jehovah  answered?  and, 
What  hath  Jehovah  spoken?  36  And  the 
burden  of  Jehovah  shall  ye  mention  no  more: 
for  every  man's  own  word  shall  be  his  burden ; 
for  ye  have  perverted  the  words  of  the  living 
God,  of  Jehovah  of  hosts  our  God.  37  Thus 
shalt  thou  say  to  the  prophet.  What  hath  Je- 
hovah answered  thee?  and,  What  hath  Jeho- 

T7 


vah  spoken?  38  But  if  ye  say,  The  burden 
of  Jehovah;  therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah:  Be- 
cause ye  say  this  w^ord,  The  burden  of  Jeho- 
vah, and  I  have  sent  unto  you,  saying.  Ye  shall 
not  say.  The  burden  of  Jehovah ;  39  therefore, 
behold,  I  will  utterly  forget  you,  and  I  will 
cast  you  ofif,  and  the  city  that  I  gave  unto  you 
and  to  your  fathers,  away  from  my  presence: 
40  and  I  will  bring  an  everlasting  reproach 
upon  you,  and  a  perpetual  shame,  which  shall 
not  be  forgotten. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

Jehovah  showed  me,  and,  behold,  two  bas- 
kets of  figs  set  before  the  temple  of  Jehovah, 
after  that  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon 
had  carried  away  captive  Jeconiah  the  son  of 
Jehoiakim,  king  of  Judah,  and  the  princes  of 
Judah,  with  the  craftsmen  and  smiths,  from 
Jerusalem  and  had  brought  them  to  Babylon. 
2  One  basket  had  very  good  figs,  like  the  figs 
that  are  first-ripe;  and  the  other  basket  had 
very  bad  figs,  which  could  not  be  eaten,  they 
were  so  bad.  3  Then  said  Jehovah  unto  me. 
What  seest  thou,  Jeremiah?  And  I  said. 
Figs;  the  good  figs,  very  good;  and  the  bad, 
verv  bad,  that  cannot  be  eaten,  they  are  so  bad. 

78 


4  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  unto  me, 
saying,  5  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Is- 
rael: Like  these  good  figs,  so  will  I  regard  the 
captives  of  Judah,  whom  I  have  sent  out  of 
this  place  into  the  land  of  the  Chaldeans,  for 
good.  6  For  I  will  set  mine  eyes  upon  them 
for  good,  and  I  will  bring  them  again  to  this 
land :  and  I  will  build  them,  and  not  pull  them 
down;  and  I  will  plant  them,  and  not  pluck 
them  up.  7  And  I  will  give  them  a  heart  to 
know  me,  that  I  am  Jehovah:  and  they  shall 
be  my  people,  and  I  will  be  their  God;  for 
they  shall  return  unto  me  with  their  whole 
heart. 

8  And  as  the  bad  figs,  which  cannot  be 
eaten,  they  are  so  bad,  surely  thus  saith  Je- 
hovah, So  will  I  give  up  Zedekiah  the  king 
of  Judah,  and  his  princes,  and  the  residue  of 
Jerusalem,  that  remain  in  this  land,  and  them 
that  dwell  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  9  I  will  even 
give  them  up  to  be  tossed  to  and  fro  among 
all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  for  evil;  to  be  a 
reproach  and  a  proverb,  a  taunt  and  a  curse, 
in  all  places  whither  I  shall  drive  them.  10 
And  I  will  send  the  sword,  the  famine,  and 
the  pestilence,  among  them,  till  they  be  con- 
sumed from  off  the  land  that  I  gave  unto  them 
and  to  their  fathers. 

79 


CHAPTER  XXV 

The  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  concern- 
ing all  the  people  of  Judah,  in  the  fourth  year 
of  Jehoiakim  the  son  of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah 
(the  same  was  the  first  year  of  Nebuchadrez- 
zar king  of  Babylon),  2  which  Jeremiah  the 
prophet  spake  unto  all  the  people  of  Judah, 
and  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  saying: 
3  From  the  thirteenth  year  of  Josiah  the  son 
of  Amon,  king  of  Judah,  even  unto  this  day, 
these  three  and  twenty  years,  the  word  of  Je- 
hovah hath  come  unto  me,  and  I  have  spoken 
unto  you,  rising  up  early  and  speaking;  but 
ye  have  not  hearkened.  4  And  Jehovah  hath 
sent  unto  you  all  his  servants  the  prophets,  ris- 
ing up  early  and  sending  them  (but  ye  have 
not  hearkened,  nor  inclined  your  ear  to  hear), 
5  saying.  Return  ye  now  every  one  from  his 
evil  way,  and  from  the  evil  of  your  doings, 
and  dwell  in  the  land  that  Jehovah  hath  given 
unto  you  and  to  your  fathers,  from  of  old  and 
even  for  evermore;  6  and  go  not  after  other 
gods  to  serve  them,  and  to  worship  them,  and 
provoke  me  not  to  anger  with  the  work  of 
your  hands;  and  I  will  do  you  no  hurt.  7 
Yet  ye  have  not  hearkened  unto  me,  saith  Je- 
hovah ;  that  ye  may  provoke  me  to  anger  with 

80 


the  work  of  your  hands  to  your  own  hurt.  8 
Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts :  Because 
ye  have  not  heard  my  words,  9  Behold,  I  will 
send  and  take  all  the  families  of  the  north, 
saith  Jehovah,  and  /  will  send  unto  Nebuchad- 
rezzar the  king  of  Babylon,  my  servant,  and 
will  bring  them  against  this  land,  and  against 
the  inhabitants  thereof,  and  against  all  these 
nations  round  about;  and  I  will  utterly  destroy 
them,  and  make  them  an  astonishment,  and  a 
hissing,  and  perpetual  desolations.  10  More- 
over I  will  take  from  them  the  voice  of  mirth 
and  the  voice  of  gladness,  the  voice  of  the 
bridegroom  and  the  voice  of  the  bride,  the 
sound  of  the  millstones,  and  the  light  of  the 
lamp.  II  And  this  whole  land  shall  be  a 
desolation,  and  an  astonishment;  ai.d  these  na- 
tions shall  serve  the  king  of  Babylon  seventy 
years. 

12  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  when  seventy 
years  are  accomplished,  that  I  will  punish 
the  king  of  Babylon,  and  that  nation,  saith 
Jehovah,  for  their  iniquity,  and  the  land  of 
the  Chaldeans;  and  I  will  make  it  desolate  for 
ever.  13  And  I  will  bring  upon  that  land  all 
my  words  which  I  have  pronounced  against 
it,  even  all  that  is  written  in  this  book,  which 
Jeremiah  hath  prophesied  against  all  the  na- 
tions.    14  For  many  nations  and  great  kings 

81 


shall  make  bondmen  of  them,  even  of  them; 
and  I  will  recompense  them  according  to  their 
deeds,  and  according  to  the  work  of  their 
hands. 

15  For  thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Is- 
rael, unto  me:  Take  this  cup  of  the  wine  of 
wrath  at  my  hand,  and  cause  all  the  nations, 
to  whom  I  send  thee,  to  drink  it.  16  And 
they  shall  drink,  and  reel  to  and  fro,  and  be 
mad,  because  of  the  sword  that  I  will  send 
among  them.  17  Then  took  I  the  cup  of  Je- 
hovah's hand,  and  made  all  the  nations  to 
drink,  unto  whom  Jehovah  had  sent  me:  18 
to  ivit,  Jerusalem,  and  the  cities  of  Judah,  and 
the  kings  thereof,  and  the  princes  thereof,  to 
make  them  a  desolation,  an  astonishment,  a 
hissing,  and  a  curse,  as  it  is  this  day;  19  Pha- 
raoh king  of  Egypt,  and  his  servants,  and  his 
princes,  and  all  his  people;  20  and  all  the 
mingled  people,  and  all  the  kings  of  the  land 
of  Uz,  and  all  the  kings  of  the  land  of  the 
Philistines,  and  Ashkelon,  and  Gaza,  and  Ek- 
ron,  and  the  remnant  of  Ashdod;  21  Edom, 
and  Moab,  and  the  children  of  Ammon ;  22 
and  all  the  kings  of  Tyre,  and  all  the  kings  of 
Sidon,  and  the  kings  of  the  isle  which  is  be- 
yond the  sea;  23  Dedan,  and  Tema,  and  Buz, 
and  all  that  have  the  corners  of  their  hair  cut 
ofif;  24  and  all  the  kings  of  Arabia,  and  all 

82 


the  kings  of  the  mingled  people  that  dwell  in 
the  wilderness;  25  and  all  the  kings  of  Zimri, 
and  all  the  kings  of  Elam,  and  all  the  kings  of 
the  Medes;  26  and  all  the  kings  of  the  north, 
far  and  near,  one  with  another;  and  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  world,  which  are  upon  the 
face  of  the  earth:  and  the  king  of  Sheshach 
shall  drink  after  them. 

27  And  thou  shalt  say  unto  them.  Thus  saith 
Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel:  Drink  ye, 
and  be  drunken,  and  spew,  and  fall,  and  rise 
no  more,  because  of  the  sword  which  I  will 
send  among  you.  28  And  it  shall  be,  if  they 
refuse  to  take  the  cup  at  thy  hand  to  drink, 
then  shalt  thou  say  unto  them,  Thus  saith  Je- 
hovah of  hosts:  Ye  shall  surely  drink.  29 
For,  lo,  I  begin  to  work  evil  at  tl.^  city  which 
is  called  by  my  name;  and  should  ye  be  utterly 
unpunished?  Ye  shall  not  be  unpunished; 
for  I  will  call  for  a  sword  upon  all  the  in- 
habitants of  the  earth,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts. 

30  Therefore  prophesy  thou  against  them 
all  these  words,  and  say  unto  them,  Jehovah 
will  roar  from  on  high,  and  utter  his  voice 
from  his  holy  habitation;  he  will  mightily 
roar  against  his  fold;  he  will  give  a  shout,  as 
they  that  tread  the  grapes,  against  all  the  in- 
habitants of  the  earth.  31  A  noise  shall  come 
even  to  the  end  of  the  earth ;  for  Jehovah  hath 

83 


a  controversy  with  the  nations;  he  will  enter 
into  judgment  with  all  flesh :  as  for  the  wicked, 
he  will  give  them  to  the  sword,  saith  Jehovah. 
32  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts.  Behold, 
evil  shall  go  forth  from  nation  to  nation,  and  a 
great  tempest  shall  be  raised  up  from  the  utter- 
most parts  of  the  earth.  33  And  the  slain  of 
Jehovah  shall  be  at  that  day  from  one  end  of 
the  earth  even  unto  the  other  end  of  the  earth : 
they  shall  not  be  lamented,  neither  gathered, 
nor  buried;  they  shall  be  dung  upon  the  face 
of  the  ground.  34  Wail,  ye  shepherds,  and 
cry;  and  wallow  in  ashes,  ye  principal  of  the 
flock;  for  the  days  of  your  slaughter  and  of 
your  dispersions  are  fully  come,  and  ye  shall 
fall  like  a  goodly  vessel.  35  And  the  shep- 
herds shall  have  no  way  to  flee,  nor  the  prin- 
cipal of  the  flock  to  escape.  36  A  voice  of  the 
cry  of  the  shepherds,  and  the  wailing  of  the 
principal  of  the  flock!  for  Jehovah  layeth 
waste  their  pasture.  37  And  the  peaceable 
folds  are  brought  to  silence  because  of  the 
fierce  anger  of  Jehovah.  38  He  hath  left  his 
covert,  as  the  lion;  for  their  land  is  become  an 
astonishment  because  of  the  fierceness  of  the 
oppressing  sword,  and  because  of  his  fierce 
anger. 


84 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

In  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Jehoiakim 
the  son  of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  came  this 
word  from  Jehovah,  saying,  2  Thus  saith  Je- 
hovah: Stand  in  the  court  of  Jehovah's  house, 
and  speak  unto  all  the  cities  of  Judah,  which 
come  to  worship  in  Jehovah's  house,  all  the 
words  that  I  command  thee  to  speak  unto 
them;  diminish  not  a  word.  3  It  may  be  they 
will  hearken,  and  turn  every  man  from  his 
evil  way;  that  I  may  repent  me  of  the  evil 
which  I  purpose  to  do  unto  them  because  of 
the  evil  of  their  doings.  4  And  thou  shalt  say 
unto  them,  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  If  ye  will  not 
hearken  to  me,  to  walk  in  my  law,  which  I 
have  set  before  you,  5  to  hearken  t  j  the  words 
of  my  servants  the  prophets,  whom  I  send  unto 
you,  even  rising  up  early  and  sending  them, 
but  ye  have  not  hearkened  ;  6  then  will  I  make 
this  house  like  Shiloh,  and  will  make  this  city 
a  curse  to  all  the  nations  of  the  earth.  7  And 
the  priests  and  the  prophets  and  all  the  people 
heard  Jeremiah  speaking  these  words  in  the 
house  of  Jehovah. 

8  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Jeremiah  had 
made  an  end  of  speaking  all  that  Jehovah  had 
commanded  him  to  speak  unto  all  the  people, 

85 


that  the  priests  and  the  prophets  and  all  the 
people  laid  hold  on  him,  saying,  Thou  shalt 
surely  die.  9  Why  hast  thou  prophesied  in 
the  name  of  Jehovah,  saying.  This  house  shall 
be  like  Shiloh,  and  this  city  shall  be  desolate, 
without  inhabitant?  And  all  the  people  were 
gathered  unto  Jeremiah  in  the  house  of  Je- 
hovah. 

10  And  when  the  princes  of  Judah  heard 
these  things,  they  came  up  from  the  king's 
house  unto  the  house  of  Jehovah;  and  they 
sat  in  the  entry  of  the  new  gate  of  Jehovah's 
house.  II  Then  spake  the  priests  and  the 
prophets  unto  the  princes  and  to  all  the  peo- 
ple, saying,  This  man  is  worthy  of  death;  for 
he  hath  prophesied  against  this  city,  as  ye  have 
heard  with  your  ears.  12  Then  spake  Jere- 
miah unto  all  the  princes  and  to  all  the  peo- 
ple, saying,  Jehovah  sent  me  to  prophesy 
against  this  house  and  against  this  city  all  the 
words  that  ye  have  heard.  13  Now  therefore 
amend  your  ways  and  your  doings,  and  obey 
the  voice  of  Jehovah  your  God;  and  Jehovah 
will  repent  him  of  the  evil  that  he  hath  pro- 
nounced against  you.  14  But  as  for  me,  be- 
hold, I  am  in  your  hand:  do  with  me  as  is 
good  and  right  in  your  eyes.  15  Only  know 
ye  for  certain  that,  if  ye  put  me  to  death,  ye 
will  bring  innocent  blood   upon   yourselves, 

86 


and  upon  this  city,  and  upon  the  inhabitants 
thereof;  for  of  a  truth  Jehovah  hath  sent  me 
unto  you  to  speak  all  these  words  in  your  ears. 

i6  Then  said  the  princes  and  all  the  peo- 
ple unto  the  priests  and  to  the  prophets:  This 
man  is  not  worthy  of  death ;  for  he  hath  spoken 
to  us  in  the  name  of  Jehovah  our  God.  17 
Then  rose  up  certain  of  the  elders  of  the  land, 
and  spake  to  all  the  assembly  of  the  people, 
saying,  18  Micah  the  Morashtite  prophesied 
in  the  days  of  Hezekiah  kirn  of  Jiidah  and 
he  spake  to  all  the  people  of  Judah,  saying. 
Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts:  Zion  shall  be 
plowed  as  a  field,  and  Jerusalem  shall  become 
heaps,  and  the  mountain  of  the  house  as  the 
high  places  of  a  forest.  19  Did  Hezekiah 
king  of  Judah  and  all  Judah  put  him  to  death? 
did  he  not  fear  Jehovah,  and  entreat  the  favor 
of  Jehovah,  and  Jehovah  repented  him  of  the 
evil  which  he  had  pronounced  against  them? 
Thus  should  we  commit  great  evil  against  our 
own  souls. 

20  And  there  was  also  a  man  that  proph- 
esied in  the  name  of  Jehovah,  Uriah  the  son 
of  Shemaiah  of  Kiriath-jearim;  and  he  proph- 
esied against  this  city  and  against  this  land 
according  to  all  the  words  of  Jeremiah.  21 
And  when  Jehoiakim  the  king,  with  all  his 
mightv  men,  and   all  the  princes,  heard  his 

87 


words,  the  king  sought  to  put  him  to  death; 
but  when  Uriah  heard  it,  he  was  afraid,  and 
fled,  and  went  into  Egypt.  22  And  Jehoia- 
kim  the  king  sent  men  into  Egypt,  namely, 
Elnathan  the  son  of  Achbor,  and  certain  men 
with  him,  into  Egypt;  23  and  they  fetched 
forth  Uriah  out  of  Egypt,  and  brought  him 
unto  Jehoiakim  the  king,  who  slew  him  with 
the  sword,  and  cast  his  dead  body  into  the 
graves  of  the  common  people.  24  But  the 
hand  of  Ahikam  the  son  of  Shaphan  was  with 
Jeremiah,  that  they  should  not  give  him  into 
the  hand  of  the  people  and  put  him  to  death. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

In  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Jehoiakim 
the  son  of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  came  this 
word  unto  Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  saying,  2 
Thus  saith  Jehovah  to  me:  Make  thee  bonds 
and  bars,  and  put  them  upon  thy  neck;  3  and 
send  them  to  the  king  of  Edom,  and  to  the 
king  of  Moab,  and  to  the  king  of  the  children 
of  Ammon,  and  to  the  king  of  Tyre,  and  to 
the  king  of  Sidon,  by  the  hand  of  the  messen- 
gers that  come  to  Jerusalem  unto  Zedekiah 
king  of  Judah :  4  and  give  them  a  charge  unto 
their  masters,  saying,  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of 

88 


hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  Thus  shall  ye  say 
unto  your  masters:  5  I  have  made  the  earth, 
the  men  and  the  beasts  that  are  upon  the  face 
of  the  earth,  by  my  great  power  and  by  my 
outstretched  arm;  and  I  give  it  unto  whom 
it  seemeth  right  unto  me.  6  And  now  have 
I  given  all  these  lands  into  the  hand  of  Neb- 
uchadnezzar the  king  of  Babylon,  my  servant; 
and  the  beasts  of  the  field  also  have  I  given 
him  to  serve  him.  7  And  all  the  nations  shall 
serve  him,  and  his  son,  and  his  son's  son,  until 
the  time  of  his  own  land  come:  and  then  many 
nations  and  great  kings  shall  make  their  bond- 
man. 8  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  the 
nation  and  the  kingdom  which  will  not  serve 
the  same  Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Babylon, 
and  that  will  not  put  their  neck  under  the  yoke 
of  the  king  of  Babylon,  that  nation  will  I  pun- 
ish, saith  Jehovah,  with  the  sword,  and  with 
the  famine,  and  with  the  pestilence,  until  I 
have  consumed  them  by  his  hand.  9  But  as 
for  you,  hearken  ye  not  to  your  prophets,  nor 
to  your  diviners,  nor  to  your  dreams,  nor  to 
your  sooth-sayers,  nor  to  your  sorcerers,  that 
speak  unto  you,  saying.  Ye  shall  not  serve  the 
king  of  Babylon:  10  for  they  phophesy  a  lie 
unto  you,  to  remove  you  far  from  your  land, 
and  that  I  should  drive  you  out,  and  ye  should 
perish.     11   But  the  nation   that  shall  bring 

89 


their  neck  under  the  yoke  of  the  king  of  Baby- 
lon, and  serve  him,  that  nation  will  I  let  re- 
main in  their  own  land,  saith  Jehovah;  and 
they  shall  till  it,  and  dwell  therein. 

12  And  I  spake  to  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah 
according  to  all  these  words,  saying,  Bring 
your  necks  under  the  yoke  of  the  king  of  Baby- 
lon, and  serve  him  and  his  people,  and  live. 
13  Why  will  ye  die,  thou  and  thy  people,  by 
the  sword,  by  the  famine,  and  by  the  pes- 
tilence, as  Jehovah  hath  spoken  concerning  the 
nation  that  will  not  serve  the  king  of  Baby- 
lon? 14  And  hearken  not  unto  the  words  of 
the  prophets  that  speak  unto  you,  saying,  Ye 
shall  not  serve  the  king  of  Babylon;  for  they 
prophesy  a  lie  unto  you.  15  For  I  have  not 
sent  them,  saith  Jehovah,  but  they  prophesy 
falsely  in  my  name;  that  I  may  drive  you  out, 
and  that  ye  may  perish,  ye,  and  the  prophets 
that  prophesy  unto  you. 

16  Also  I  spake  to  the  priests  and  to  all  this 
people,  saying,  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Hearken 
not  to  the  words  of  your  prophets  that  proph- 
esy unto  you,  saying.  Behold,  the  vessels  of  Je- 
hovah's house  shall  now  shortly  be  brought 
again  from  Babylon;  for  they  prophesy  a  lie 
unto  you.  17  Hearken  not  unto  them;  serve 
the  king  of  Babylon,  and  live:  wherefore 
should  this  city  become  a  desolation?     18  But 

90 


if  they  be  prophets,  and  if  the  word  of  Jeho- 
vah be  with  them,  let  them  now  make  inter- 
cession to  Jehovah  of  hosts,  that  the  vessels 
which  are  left  in  the  house  of  Jehovah,  and 
in  the  house  of  the  king  of  Judah,  and  at  Jeru- 
salem, go  not  to  Babylon.  19  For  thus  saith 
Jehovah  of  hosts  concerning  the  pillars,  and 
concerning  the  sea,  and  concerning  the  bases, 
and  concerning  the  residue  of  the  vessels  that 
are  left  in  this  city,  20  which  Nebuchadnezzar 
king  of  Babylon  took  not,  when  he  carried 
away  captive  Jeconiah  the  son  of  Jehoiakim, 
king  of  Judah,  from  Jerusalem  to  Babylon, 
and  all  the  nobles  of  Judah  and  Jerusalem;  21 
yea,  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Is- 
rael, concerning  the  vessels  that  are  left  in  the 
house  of  Jehovah,  and  in  the  house  of  the  king 
of  Judah,  and  at  Jerusalem:  22  They  shall  be 
carried  to  Babylon,  and  there  shall  they  be, 
until  the  day  that  I  visit  them,  saith  Jehovah; 
then  will  I  bring  them  up,  and  restore  them 
to  this  place. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

And  it  came  to  pass  the  same  year,  in  the 
beginning  of  the  reign  of  Zedekiah  king  of 
Judah,  in  the  fourth  year,  in  the  fifth  month, 

91 


that  Hananiah  the  son  of  Azzur,  the  prophet, 
who  was  of  Gibeon,  spake  unto  me  in  the  house 
of  Jehovah,  in  the  presence  of  the  priests  and 
of  all  the  people,  saying,  2  Thus  speaketh  Je- 
hovah of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  saying,  I 
have  broken  the  yoke  of  the  king  of  Babylon. 
3  Within  two  full  years  will  I  bring  again 
into  this  place  all  the  vessels  of  Jehovah's 
house,  that  Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Babylon 
took  away  from  this  place,  and  carried  to 
Babylon :  4  and  I  will  bring  again  to  this  place 
Jeconiah  the  son  of  Jehoiakim,  king  of  Judah, 
with  all  the  captives  of  Judah,  that  went  to 
Babylon,  saith  Jehovah;  for  I  will  break  the 
yoke  of  the  king  of  Babylon. 

5  Then  the  prophet  Jeremiah  said  unto 
the  prophet  Hananiah  in  the  presence  of  the 
priests,  and  in  the  presence  of  all  the  people 
that  stood  in  the  house  of  Jehovah,  6  even  the 
prophet  Jeremiah  said.  Amen :  Jehovah  do  so ; 
Jehovah  perform  thy  words  which  thou  hast 
prophesied,  to  bring  again  the  vessels  of  Je- 
hovah's house,  and  all  them  of  the  captivity, 
from  Babylon  unto  this  place.  7  Neverthe- 
less hear  thou  now  this  word  that  I  speak  in 
thine  ears,  and  in  the  ears  of  all  the  people:  8 
The  prophets  that  have  been  before  me  and 
before  thee  of  old  prophesied  against  many 
countries,  and  against  great  kingdoms,  of  war, 

92 


Then   Hananiah   the   prophet    took    the   bar  from   off   the   prophet 
Jeremiah's  neck,  and  brake  iV.— xxviii-10. 


and  of  evil,  and  of  pestilence.  9  The  prophet 
that  prophesieth  of  peace,  when  the  word  of 
the  prophet  shall  come  to  pass,  then  shall  the 
prophet  be  known,  that  Jehovah  hath  truly 
sent  him.  10  Then  Hananiah  the  prophet 
took  the  bar  from  off  the  prophet  Jeremiah's 
neck,  and  brake  it.  11  And  Hananiah  spake 
in  the  presence  of  all  the  people,  saying.  Thus 
saith  Jehovah :  Even  so  will  I  break  the  yoke 
of  Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Babylon  within 
two  full  years  from  ofif  the  neck  of  all  the  na- 
tions. And  the  prophet  Jeremiah  went  his 
way. 

12  Then  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  unto 
Jeremiah,  after  that  Hananiah  the  prophet 
had  broken  the  bar  from  off  the  neck  of  the 
prophet  Jeremiah,  saying,  13  Go,  and  tell 
Hananiah,  saying,  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Thou 
hast  broken  the  bars  of  wood;  but  thou  hast 
made  in  their  stead  bars  of  iron.  14  For  thus 
saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel :  I 
have  put  a  yoke  of  iron  upon  the  neck  of  all 
these  nations,  that  they  may  serve  Nebuchad- 
nezzar king  of  Babylon;  and  they  shall  serve 
him:  and  I  have  given  him  the  beasts  of  the 
field  also.  15  Then  said  the  prophet  Jere- 
miah unto  Hananiah  the  prophet,  Hear  now, 
Hananiah:  Jehovah  hath  not  sent  thee;  but 
thou  makest  this  people  to  trust  in  a  lie.     16 

93 


Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah,  Behold,  I  will 
send  thee  away  from  off  the  face  of  the  earth: 
this  year  thou  shalt  die,  because  thou  hast 
spoken  rebellion  against  Jehovah.  17  So 
Hananiah  the  prophet  died  the  same  year  in 
the  seventh  month. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

Now  these  are  the  words  of  the  letter  that 
Jeremiah  the  prophet  sent  from  Jerusalem 
unto  the  residue  of  the  elders  of  the  captivity, 
and  to  the  priests,  and  to  the  prophets,  and  to 
all  the  people,  whom  Nebuchadnezzar  had 
carried  away  captive  from  Jerusalem  to  Baby- 
lon 2  (after  that  Jeconiah  the  king,  and  the 
queen-mother,  and  the  eunuchs,  and  the 
princes  of  Judah  and  Jerusalem,  and  the 
craftsmen,  and  the  smiths,  were  departed  from 
Jerusalem),  3  by  the  hand  of  Elasah  the  son 
of  Shaphan,  and  Gemariah  the  son  of  Hilkiah 
(whom  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah  sent  unto 
Babylon  to  Nebuchadnezzar  king  of  Baby- 
lon), saying,  4  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 
the  God  of  Israel,  unto  all  the  captivity,  whom 
I  have  caused  to  be  carried  away  captive  from 
Jerusalem  unto  Babylon:  5  Build  ye  houses, 
and  dwell  in  them;  and  plant  gardens,  and  eat 

94 


the  fruit  of  them.  6  Take  ye  wives,  and  be- 
get sons  and  daughters;  and  take  wives  for 
your  sons,  and  give  your  daughters  to  hus- 
bands, that  they  may  bear  sons  and  daughters: 
and  multiply  ye  there,  and  be  not  diminished. 
7  And  seek  the  peace  of  the  city  whither  I 
have  caused  you  to  be  carried  away  captive, 
and  pray  unto  Jehovah  for  it;  for  in  the  peace 
thereof  shall  ye  have  peace.  8  For  thus  saith 
Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel:  Let  not 
your  prophets  that  are  in  the  mfj '=!t  of  you,  and 
your  diviners,  deceive  you;  neither  hearken 
ye  to  your  dreams  which  ye  cause  to  be 
dreamed.  9  For  they  prophesy  falsely  unto 
you  in  my  name:  I  have  not  sent  them,  saith 
Jehovah.  10  For  thus  saith  Jehovah,  After 
seventy  years  are  accomplished  for  Babylon,  I 
will  visit  you,  and  perform  my  good  word 
toward  you,  in  causing  you  to  return  to  this 
place.  1 1  For  I  know  the  thoughts  that  I 
think  toward  you,  saith  Jehovah,  thoughts  of 
peace,  and  not  of  evil,  to  give  you  hope  in 
your  latter  end.  12  And  ye  shall  call  upon 
me,  and  ye  shall  go  and  pray  unto  me,  and  I 
will  hearken  unto  you.  13  And  ye  shall  seek 
me,  and  find  me,  when  ye  shall  search  for  me 
with  all  your  heart.  14  And  I  will  be  found 
of  you,  saith  Jehovah,  and  I  will  turn  again 
your  captivity,  and  I  will  gather  you  from  all 

95 


the  nations,  and  from  all  the  places  whither 
I  have  driven  you,  saith  Jehovah;  and  I  will 
bring  you  again  unto  the  place  whence  I 
caused  you  to  be  carried  away  captive. 

15  Because  ye  have  said,  Jehovah  hath 
raised  us  up  prophets  in  Babylon;  16  thus 
saith  Jehovah  concerning  the  king  that  sitteth 
upon  the  throne  of  David,  and  concerning  all 
the  people  that  dwell  in  this  city,  your  breth- 
ren that  are  not  gone  forth  with  you  into  cap- 
tivity; 17  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts:  Be- 
hold, I  will  send  upon  them  the  sword,  the 
famine,  and  the  pestilence,  and  will  make  them 
like  vile  figs,  that  cannot  be  eaten,  they  are 
so  bad.  18  And  I  will  pursue  after  them 
with  the  sword,  with  the  famine,  and  with  the 
pestilence,  and  will  deliver  them  to  be  tossed 
to  and  fro  among  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth, 
to  be  an  execration,  and  an  astonishment,  and 
a  hissing,  and  a  reproach,  among  all  the  na- 
tions whither  I  have  driven  them;  19  because 
they  have  not  hearkened  to  my  words,  saith  Je- 
hovah, wherewith  I  sent  unto  them  my  serv- 
ants the  prophets,  rising  up  early  and  sending 
them;  but  ye  would  not  hear,  saith  Jehovah. 
20  Hear  ye  therefore  the  word  of  Jehovah, 
all  ye  of  the  captivity,  whom  I  have  sent  away 
from  Jerusalem  to  Babylon. 

21  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of 

96 


Israel,  concerning  Ahab  the  son  of  Kolaiah, 
and  concerning  Zedekiah  the  son  of  Maaseiah, 
who  prophesy  a  lie  unto  you  in  my  name: 
Behold,  I  will  deliver  them  into  the  hand  of 
Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon;  and  he 
shall  slay  them  before  your  eyes;  22  and  of 
them  shall  be  taken  up  a  curse  by  all  the  cap- 
tives of  Judah  that  are  in  Babylon,  saying,  Je- 
hovah make  thee  like  Zedekiah  and  like  Ahab, 
whom  the  king  of  Babylon  roasted  in  the  fire; 
23  because  they  have  wrought  f.  !ly  in  Israel, 
and  have  committed  adultery  with  their  neigh- 
bors' wives,  and  have  spoken  words  in  my 
name  falsely,  which  I  commanded  them  not; 
and  I  am  he  that  knoweth,  and  am  witness, 
saith  Jehovah. 

24  And  concerning  Shemaiah  the  Nehela- 
mite  thou  shalt  speak,  saying,  25  Thus  speak- 
eth  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  saying. 
Because  thou  hast  sent  letters  in  thine  own 
name  unto  all  the  people  that  are  at  Jerusalem, 
and  to  Zephaniah  the  son  of  Maaseiah,  the 
priest,  and  to  all  the  priests,  saying,  26  Jeho- 
vah hath  made  thee  priest  in  the  stead  of 
Jehoiada  the  priest,  that  there  may  be  officers 
in  the  house  of  Jehovah,  for  every  man  that  is 
mad,  and  maketh  himself  a  prophet,  that  thou 
shouldest  put  him  in  the  stocks  and  in  shackles. 
27  Now  therefore,  why  hast  thou  not  rebuked 

97 


Jeremiah  of  Anathoth,  who  maketh  himself  a 
prophet  to  you,  28  forasmuch  as  he  hath  sent 
unto  us  in  Babylon,  saying,  The  captivity  is 
long:  build  ye  houses,  and  dwell  in  them;  and 
plant  gardens,  and  eat  the  fruit  of  them?  29 
And  Zephaniah  the  priest  read  this  letter  in 
the  ears  of  Jeremiah  the  prophet.  30  Then 
came  the  word  of  Jehovah  unto  Jeremiah,  say- 
ing, 31  Send  to  all  them  of  the  captivity,  say- 
ing. Thus  saith  Jehovah  concerning  Shemaiah 
the  Nehelamite:  Because  that  Shemaiah  hath 
prophesied  unto  you,  and  I  sent  him  not,  and 
he  hath  caused  you  to  trust  in  a  lie;  32  there- 
fore thus  saith  Jehovah,  Behold,  I  will  punish 
Shemaiah  the  Nehelamite,  and  his  seed;  he 
shall  not  have  a  man  to  dwell  among  this  peo- 
ple, neither  shall  he  behold  the  good  that  I 
will  do  unto  my  people,  saith  Jehovah,  because 
he  hath  spoken  rebellion  against  Jehovah. 


CHAPTER  XXX 

The  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Je- 
hovah, saying,  2  Thus  speaketh  Jehovah,  the 
God  of  Israel,  saying.  Write  thee  all  the  words 
that  I  have  spoken  unto  thee  in  a  book.  3 
For,  lo,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah,  that  I 
will  turn  again  the  captivity  of  my  people  Is- 

98 


rael  and  Judah,  saith  Jehovah;  and  I  will 
cause  them  to  return  to  the  land  that  I  gave  to 
their  fathers,  and  they  shall  possess  it. 

4  And  these  are  the  words  that  Jehovah 
spake  concerning  Israel  and  concerning  Judah. 

5  For  thus  saith  Jehovah:  We  have  heard  a 
voice  of  trembling,  of  fear,  and  not  of  peace. 

6  Ask  ye  now,  and  see  whether  a  man  doth 
travail  with  child:  wherefore  do  I  see  every 
man  with  his  hands  on  his  loins,  as  a  woman 
in  travail,  and  all  faces  are  tuf..ed  into  pale- 
ness? 7  Alas!  for  that  day  is  great,  so  that 
none  is  like  it:  it  is  even  the  time  of  Jacob's 
trouble;  but  he  shall  be  saved  out  of  it.  8 
And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  that  day,  saith 
Jehovah  of  hosts,  that  I  will  break  his  yoke 
from  off  thy  neck,  and  will  burst  thy  bonds; 
and  strangers  shall  no  more  make  him  their 
bondman ;  9  but  they  shall  serve  Jehovah  their 
God,  and  David  their  king,  whom  I  will  raise 
up  unto  them.  10  Therefore  fear  thou  not,  O 
Jacob  my  servant,  saith  Jehovah;  neither  be 
dismayed,  O  Israel:  for,  lo,  I  will  save  thee 
from  afar,  and  thy  seed  from  the  land  of  their 
captivity;  and  Jacob  shall  return,  and  shall 
be  quiet  and  at  ease,  and  none  shall  make  him 
afraid,  i  r  For  I  am  with  thee,  saith  Jeho- 
vah, to  save  thee:  for  I  will  make  a  full  end 
of  all  the  nations  whither  I   have  scattered 

99 


thee,  but  I  will  not  make  a  full  end  of  thee; 
but  I  will  correct  thee  in  measure,  and  will  in 
no  wise  leave  thee  unpunished. 

12  For  thus  saith  Jehovah,  Thy  hurt  is  in- 
curable, and  thy  wound  grievous.  13  There 
is  none  to  plead  thy  cause,  that  thou  mayest 
be  bound  up :  thou  hast  no  healing  medicines. 
14  All  thy  lovers  have  forgotten  thee;  they 
seek  thee  not:  for  I  have  wounded  thee  with 
the  wound  of  an  enemy,  with  the  chastisement 
of  a  cruel  one,  for  the  greatness  of  thine  in- 
iquity, because  thy  sins  were  increased.  15 
Why  criest  thou  for  thy  hurt?  thy  pain  is  in- 
curable: for  the  greatness  of  thine  iniquity, 
because  thy  sins  were  increased,  I  have  done 
these  things  unto  thee.  16  Therefore  all  they 
that  devour  thee  shall  be  devoured;  and  all 
thine  adversaries,  every  one  of  them,  shall  go 
into  captivity;  and  they  that  despoil  thee  shall 
be  a  spoil,  and  all  that  prey  upon  thee  will  I 
give  for  a  prey.  17  For  I  will  restore  health 
unto  thee,  and  I  will  heal  thee  of  thy  wounds, 
saith  Jehovah;  because  they  have  called  thee 
an  outcast,  saying.  It  is  Zion,  whom  no  man 
seeketh  after. 

18  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Behold,  I  will  turn 
again  the  captivity  of  Jacob's  tents,  and  have 
compassion  on  his  dwelling-places;  and  the 
city  shall  be  builded  upon  its  own  hill,  and 

100 


the  palace  shall  be  inhabited  after  its  own  man- 
ner. 19  And  out  of  them  shall  proceed 
thanksgiving  and  the  voice  of  them  that  make 
merry:  and  I  will  multiply  them,  and  they 
shall  not  be  few;  I  will  also  glorify  them,  and 
they  shall  not  be  small.  20  Their  children 
also  shall  be  as  aforetime,  and  their  congrega- 
tion shall  be  established  before  me;  and  I  will 
punish  all  that  oppress  them.  21  And  their 
prince  shall  be  of  themselves,  and  their  ruler 
shall  proceed  from  the  midst  o.''  them;  and  I 
will  cause  him  to  draw  near,  and  he  shall  ap- 
proach unto  me:  for  who  is  he  that  hath  had 
boldness  to  approach  unto  me?  saith  Jehovah. 
22  And  ye  shall  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be 
your  God. 

23  Behold,  the  tempest  of  Jehovah,  even  his 
wrath,  is  gone  forth,  a  sweeping  tempest:  it 
shall  burst  upon  the  head  of  the  wicked.  24 
The  fierce  anger  of  Jehovah  shall  not  return, 
until  he  have  executed,  and  till  he  have  per- 
formed the  intents  of  his  heart:  in  the  latter 
days  ye  shall  understand  it. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

At  that  time,  saith  Jehovah,  will  I  be  the 
God  of  all  the  families  of  Israel,  and  they 

lOI 


shall  be  my  people.  2  Thus  saith  Jehovah, 
The  people  that  were  left  of  the  sword  found 
favor  in  the  wilderness;  even*  Israel,  when  I 
went  to  cause  him  to  rest.  3  Jehovah  ap- 
peared of  old  unto  me,  saying,  Yea,  I  have 
loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love:  therefore 
with  loving-kindness  have  I  drawn  thee.  4 
Again  will  I  build  thee,  and  thou  shalt  be 
built,  O  virgin  of  Israel:  again  shalt  thou  be 
adorned  with  thy  tabrets,  and  shalt  go  forth 
in  the  dances  of  them  that  make  merry.  5 
Again  shalt  thou  plant  vineyards  upon  the 
mountains  of  Samaria;  the  planters  shall  plant, 
and  shall  enjoy  the  fruit  thereof.  6  For  there 
shall  be  a  day,  that  the  watchmen  upon  the 
hills  of  Ephraim  shall  cry.  Arise  ye,  and  let 
us  go  up  to  Zion  unto  Jehovah  our  God. 

7  For  thus  saith  Jehovah,  Sing  with  glad- 
ness for  Jacob,  and  shout  for  the  chief  of  the 
nations :  publish  ye,  praise  ye,  and  say,  O  Jeho- 
vah, save  thy  people,  the  remnant  of  Israel. 
8  Behold,  I  will  bring  them  from  the  north 
country,  and  gather  them  from  the  uttermost 
parts  of  the  earth,  and  with  them  the  blind  and 
the  lame,  the  woman  with  child  and  her  that 
travaileth  with  child  together:  a  great  com- 
pany shall  they  return  hither.  9  They  shall 
come  with  weeping;  and  with  supplications 
will  I  lead  them:  I  will  cause  them  to  walk 

^02 


by  rivers  of  waters,  in  a  straight  way  wherein 
they  shall  not  stumble;  for  I  am  a  father  to 
Israel,  and  Ephraim  is  my  first-born. 

.10  Hear  the  word  of  Jehovah,  O  ye  nations, 
and  declare  it  in  the  isles  afar  off;  and  say,  He 
that  scattered  Israel  will  gather  him,  and 
keep  him,  as  a  shepherd  doth  his  flock.  1 1 
For  Jehovah  hath  ransomed  Jacob,  and  re- 
deemed him  from  the  hand  of  him  that  was 
stronger  than  he.  12  And  they  shall  come 
and  sing  in  the  height  of  Zior  and  shall  flow 
unto  the  goodness  of  Jehovah,  to  the  grain, 
and  to  the  new  wine,  and  to  the  oil,  and  to  the 
young  of  the  flock  and  of  the  herd:  and  their 
soul  shall  be  as  a  watered  garden;  and  they 
shall  not  sorrow  any  more  at  all.  13  Then 
shall  the  virgin  rejoice  in  the  dance,  and  the 
young  men  and  the  old  together;  for  I  will 
turn  their  mourning  into  joy,  and  will  comfort 
them,  and  make  them  rejoice  from  their  sor- 
row. 14  And  I  will  satiate  the  soul  of  the 
priests  with  fatness,  and  my  people  shall  be 
satisfied  with  my  goodness,  saith  Jehovah. 

15  Thus  saith  Jehovah :  A  voice  is  heard  in 
Ramah,  lamentation,  and  bitter  weeping, 
Rachel  weeping  for  her  children;  she  refiiseth 
to  be  comforted  for  her  children,  because  they 
are  not.  16  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Refrain  thy 
voice  from  weeping,  and  thine  eyes  from  tears ; 

103 


for  thy  work  shall  be  rewarded,  saith  Jehovah ; 
and  they  shall  come  again  from  the  land  of  the 
enemy.  17  And  there  is  hope  for  thy  latter 
end,  saith  Jehovah;  and  thy  children  shall 
come  again  to  their  own  border.  18  I  have 
surely  heard  Ephraim  bemoaning  himself 
thus,  Thou  hast  chastised  me,  and  I  was  chas- 
tised, as  a  calf  unaccustomed  to  the  yoke:  turn 
thou  me,  and  I  shall  be  turned ;  for  thou  art 
Jehovah  my  God.  19  Surely  after  that  I  was 
turned,  I  repented;  and  after  that  I  was  in- 
structed, I  smote  upon  my  thigh:  I  was 
ashamed,  yea,  even  confounded,  because  I  did 
bear  the  reproach  of  my  youth.  20  Is  Eph- 
raim my  dear  son?  is  he  a  darling  child?  for 
as  often  as  I  speak  against  him,  I  do  earnestly 
remember  him  still :  therefore  my  heart  yearn- 
eth  for  him;  I  will  surely  have  mercy  upon 
him,  saith  Jehovah. 

21  Set  thee  up  waymarks,  make  thee  guide- 
posts  ;  set  thy  heart  toward  the  highway,  even 
the  way  by  which  thou  wentest:  turn  again,  O 
virgin  of  Israel,  turn  again  to  these  thy  cities. 
22  How  long  wilt  thou  go  hither  and  thither, 
O  thou  backsliding  daughter?  for  Jehovah 
hath  created  a  new  thing  in  the  earth :  A 
woman  shall  encompass  a  man. 

23  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
Israel,  Yet  again  shall  they  use  this  speech  in 

104 


the  land  of  Judah  and  in  the  cities  thereof, 
when  I  shall  bring  again  their  captivity:  Je- 
hovah bless  thee,  O  habitation  of  righteousness, 
O  mountain  of  holiness.  24  And  Judah  and 
all  the  cities  thereof  shall  dwell  therein  to- 
gether, the  husbandmen  and  they  that  go 
about  with  flocks.  25  For  I  have  satiated  the 
weary  soul,  and  every  sorrowful  soul  have  I 
replenished.  26  Upon  this  I  awaked,  and  be- 
held ;  and  my  sleep  was  sweet  unto  me. 

27  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 
that  I  will  sow  the  house  of  Israel  and  the 
house  of  Judah  with  the  seed  of  man,  and  with 
the  seed  of  beast.  28  And  it  shall  come  to 
pass  that,  like  as  I  have  watched  over  them 
to  pluck  up  and  to  break  down  and  to  over- 
throw and  to  destroy  and  to  afflict,  so  will  I 
watch  over  them  to  build  and  to  plant,  saith 
Jehovah.  29  In  those  days  they  shall  say  no 
more,  The  fathers  have  eaten  sour  grapes,  and 
the  children's  teeth  are  set  on  edge.  30  But 
every  one  shall  die  for  his  own  iniquity:  every 
man  that  eateth  the  sour  grapes,  his  teeth  shall 
be  set  on  edge. 

31  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 
that  I  will  make  a  new  covenant  with  the  house 
of  Israel,  and  with  the  house  of  Judah :  32  not 
according  to  the  covenant  that  I  made  with 
their  fathers  in  the  day  that  I  took  them  by 

105 


the  hand  to  bring  them  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt;  which  my  covenant  they  brake,  al- 
though I  was  a  husband  unto  them,  saith  Je- 
hovah. 33  But  this  is  the  covenant  that  I 
will  make  with  the  house  of  Israel  after  those 
days,  saith  Jehovah:  I  will  put  my  law  in 
their  inward  parts,  and  in  their  heart  will  I 
write  it;  and  I  will  be  their  God,  and  they 
shall  be  my  people.  34  And  they  shall  teach 
no  more  every  man  his  neighbor,  and  every 
man  his  brother,  saying.  Know  Jehovah;  for 
they  shall  all  know  me,  from  the  least  of  them 
unto  the  greatest  of  them,  saith  Jehovah:  for 
I  will  forgive  their  iniquity,  and  their  sin  will 
I  remember  no  more. 

35  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  who  giveth  the  sun 
for  a  light  by  day,  and  the  ordinances  of  the 
moon  and  of  the  stars  for  a  light  by  night, 
who  stirreth  up  the  sea,  so  that  the  waves 
thereof  roar;  Jehovah  of  hosts  is  his  name:  36 
If  these  ordinances  depart  from  before  me, 
saith  Jehovah,  then  the  seed  of  Israel  also  shall 
cease  from  being  a  nation  before  me  for  ever. 
37  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  If  heaven  above  can 
be  measured,  and  the  foundations  of  the  earth 
searched  out  beneath,  then  will  I  also  cast  ofif 
all  the  seed  of  Israel  for  all  that  they  have 
done,  saith  Jehovah. 

38  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 
106 


that  the  city  shall  be  built  to  Jehovah  from  the 
tower  of  Hananel  unto  the  gate  of  the  corner. 
39  And  the  measuring  line  shall  go  out  fur- 
ther straight  onward  unto  the  hill  Gareb,  and 
shall  turn  about  unto  Goah.  40  And  the 
whole  valley  of  the  dead  bodies  and  of  the 
ashes,  and  all  the  fields  unto  the  brook  Kidron, 
unto  the  corner  of  the  horse  gate  toward  the 
east,  shall  be  holy  unto  Jehovah;  it  shall  not 
be  plucked  up,  nor  thrown  down  any  more  for 
ever.  ^ 

CHAPTER  XXXII 

The  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  from  Je- 
hovah in  the  tenth  year  of  Zedekiah  king  of 
Judah,  which  was  the  eighteenth  year  of  Neb- 
uchadrezzar. 2  Now  at  that  time  the  king  of 
Babylon's  army  was  besieging  Jerusalem;  and 
Jeremiah  the  prophet  was  shut  up  in  the  court 
of  the  guard,  which  was  in  the  king  of  Judah's 
house.  3  For  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah  had 
shut  him  up,  saying,  Wherefore  dost  thou 
prophesy,  and  say,  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  Be- 
hold, I  will  give  this  city  into  the  hand  of  the 
king  of  Babylon,  and  he  shall  take  it;  4  and 
Zedekiah  king  of  Judah  shall  not  escape  out 
of  the  hand  of  the  Chaldeans,  but  shall  surely 
be  delivered  into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Baby- 

107 


Ion,  and  shall  speak  with  him  mouth  to  mouth, 
and  his  eyes  shall  behold  his  eyes;  5  and  he 
shall  bring  Zedekiah  to  Babylon,  and  there 
shall  he  be  until  I  visit  him,  saith  Jehovah: 
though  ye  fight  with  the  Chaldeans,  ye  shall 
not  prosper? 

6  And  Jeremiah  said.  The  word  of  Jehovah 
came  unto  me,  saying,  7  Behold,  Hanamel  the 
son  of  Shallum  thine  uncle  shall  come  unto 
thee,  saying.  Buy  thee  my  field  that  is  in  Ana- 
thoth;  for  the  right  of  redemption  is  thine  to 
buy  it.  8  So  Hanamel  mine  uncle's  son  came 
to  me  in  the  court  of  the  guard  according  to 
the  word  of  Jehovah,  and  said  unto  me.  Buy 
my  field,  I  pray  thee,  that  is  in  Anathoth, 
which  is  in  the  land  of  Benjamin ;  for  the  right 
of  inheritance  is  thine,  and  the  redemption  is 
thine;  buy  it  for  thyself.  Then  I  knew  that 
this  was  the  word  of  Jehovah.  9  And  I 
bought  the  field  that  was  in  Anathoth  of  Hana- 
mel mine  uncle's  son,  and  weighed  him  the 
money,  even  seventeen  shekels  of  silver.  10 
And  I  subscribed  the  deed,  and  sealed  it,  and 
called  witnesses,  and  weighed  him  the  money 
in  the  balances.  1 1  So  I  took  the  deed  of 
the  purchase,  both  that  which  was  sealed,  ac- 
cording to  the  law  and  custom,  and  that  which 
was  open:  12  and  I  delivered  the  deed  of  the 
purchase  unto  Baruch  the  son  of  Neriah,  the 

108 


son  of  Mahseiah,  in  the  presence  of  Hanamel 
mine  uncle's  son,  and  in  the  presence  of  the 
witnesses  that  subscribed  the  deed  of  the  pur- 
chase, before  all  the  Jews  that  sat  in  the  court 
of  the  guard.  13  And  I  charged  Baruch  be- 
fore them,  saying,  14  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of 
hosts,  the  God  of  Israel :  Take  these  deeds,  this 
deed  of  the  purchase  which  is  sealed,  and  this 
deed  which  is  open,  and  put  them  in  an  earthen 
vessel ;  that  they  may  continue  many  days.  15 
For  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the~  3od  of  Is- 
rael: Houses  and  fields  and  vineyards  shall  yet 
again  be  bought  in  this  land. 

16  Now  after  I  had  delivered  the  deed  of 
the  purchase  unto  Baruch  the  son  of  Neriah, 
I  prayed  unto  Jehovah,  saying,  17  Ah  Lord 
Jehovah!  behold,  thou  hast  made  the  heavens 
and  the  earth  by  thy  great  power  and  by  thine 
outstretched  arm;  there  is  nothing  too  hard 
for  thee,  18  who  showest  lovingkindness  unto 
thousands,  and  recompensest  the  iniquity  of 
the  fathers  into  the  bosom  of  their  children 
after  them;  the  great,  the  mighty  God,  Jeho- 
vah of  hosts  is  his  name;  19  great  in  counsel, 
and  mighty  in  work;  whose  eyes  are  open  upon 
all  the  ways  of  the  sons  of  men,  to  give  every 
one  according  to  his  ways,  and  according  to 
the  fruit  of  his  doings;  20  who  didst  set  signs 
and  wonders  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  even  unto 

109 


this  day,  both  in  Israel  and  among  other  men; 
and  madest  thee  a  name,  as  at  this  day;  21 
and  didst  bring  forth  thy  people  Israel  out  of 
the  land  of  Egypt  with  signs,  and  with  won- 
ders, and  with  a  strong  hand,  and  with  an  out- 
stretched arm,  and  with  great  terror;  22  and 
gavest  them  this  land,  which  thou  didst  swear 
to  their  fathers  to  give  them,  a  land  flowing 
with  milk  and  honey;  23  and  they  came  in, 
and  possessed  it;  but  they  obeyed  not  thy 
voice,  neither  walked  in  thy  law;  they  have 
done  nothing  of  all  that  thou  commandedst 
them  to  do:  therefore  thou  hast  caused  all  this 
evil  to  come  upon  them.  24  Behold,  the 
mounds,  they  are  come  unto  the  city  to  take 
it;  and  the  city  is  given  into  the  hand  of  the 
Chaldeans  that  fight  against  it,  because  of  the 
sword,  and  of  the  famine,  and  of  the  pesti- 
lence; and  what  thou  hast  spoken  is  come  to 
pass;  and,  behold,  thou  seest  it.  25  And  thou 
hast  said  unto  me,  O  Lord  Jehovah,  Buy  thee 
the  field  for  money,  and  call  witnesses; 
whereas  the  city  is  given  into  the  hand  of  the 
Chaldeans. 

26  Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  unto 
Jeremiah,  saying,  27  Behold,  I  am  Jehovah, 
the  God  of  all  flesh:  is  there  anything  too  hard 
for  me?  28  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah: 
Behold,  I  will  give  this  city  into  the  hand  of 

no 


the  Chaldeans,  and  into  the  hand  of  Nebu- 
chadnezzar king  of  Babylon,  and  he  shall  take 
it:  29  and  the  Chaldeans,  that  fight  against  this 
city,  shall  come  and  set  this  city  on  fire,  and 
burn  it,  with  the  houses,  upon  whose  roofs 
they  have  offered  incense  unto  Baal,  and 
poured  out  drink-ofiferings  unto  other  gods, 
to  provoke  me  to  anger.  30  For  the  children 
of  Israel  and  the  children  of  Judah  have  done 
only  that  which  was  evil  in  my  sight  from 
their  youth;  for  the  children  of  Israel  have 
only  provoked  me  to  anger  with  the  work  of 
their  hands,  saith  Jehovah.  31  For  this  city 
hath  been  to  me  a  provocation  of  mine  anger 
and  of  my  wrath  from  the  day  that  they  built 
it  even  unto  this  day;  that  I  should  remove 
it  from  before  my  face,  32  because  of  all  the 
evil  of  the  children  of  Israel  and  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Judah,  which  they  have  done  to  pro- 
voke me  to  anger,  they,  their  kings,  their 
princes,  their  priests,  and  their  prophets,  and 
the  men  of  Judah,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Je- 
rusalem. 33  And  they  have  turned  unto  me 
the  back,  and  not  the  face:  and  though  I  taught 
them,  rising  up  early  and  teaching  them,  yet 
they  have  not  hearkened  to  receive  instruction. 
34  But  they  set  their  abominations  in  the  house 
which  is  called  by  my  name,  to  defile  it.  35 
And  they  built  the  high  places  of  Baal,  which 

1 1 1 


are  in  the  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom,  to 
cause  their  sons  and  their  daughters  to  pass 
through  the  fire  unto  Molech;  which  I  com- 
manded them  not,  neither  came  it  into  my 
mind,  that  they  should  do  this  abomination,  to 
cause  Judah  to  sin. 

36  And  now  therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah, 
the  God  of  Israel,  concerning  this  city, 
whereof  ye  say.  It  is  given  into  the  hand  of  the 
king  of  Babylon  by  the  sword,  and  by  the 
famine,  and  by  the  pestilence:  37  Behold,  I 
will  gather  them  out  of  all  the  countries, 
whither  I  have  driven  them  in  mine  anger, 
and  in  my  wrath,  and  in  great  indignation; 
and  I  will  bring  them  again  unto  this  place, 
and  I  will  cause  them  to  dwell  safely.  38 
And  they  shall  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be 
their  God:  39  and  I  will  give  them  one  heart 
and  one  way,  that  they  may  fear  me  for  ever, 
for  the  good  of  them,  and  their  children  after 
them :  40  and  I  will  make  an  everlasting  cove- 
nant with  them,  that  I  will  not  turn  away  from 
following  them,  to  do  them  good;  and  I  will 
put  my  fear  in  their  hearts,  that  they  may  not 
depart  from  me.  41  Yea,  I  will  rejoice  over 
them  to  do  them  good,  and  I  will  plant  them 
in  this  land  assuredly  with  my  whole  heart 
and  with  my  whole  soul.  42  For  thus  saith 
Jehovah:  Like  as  I  have  brought  all  this  great 

112 


evil  upon  this  people,  so  will  I  bring  upon 
them  all  the  good  that  I  have  promised  them. 
43  And  fields  shall  be  bought  in  this  land, 
whereof  ye  say,  It  is  desolate,  without  man  or 
beast;  it  is  given  into  the  hand  of  the  Chal- 
deans. 44  Men  shall  buy  fields  for  money, 
and  subscribe  the  deeds,  and  seal  them,  and 
call  witnesses,  in  the  land  of  Benjamin,  and 
in  the  places  about  Jerusalem,  and  in  the  cities 
of  Judah,  and  in  the  cities  of  the  hill-country, 
and  in  the  cities  of  the  lowland,  an"'  in  the 
cities  of  the  South:  for  I  will  cause  their  cap- 
tivity to  return,  saith  Jehovah. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

Moreover  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  unto 
Jeremiah  the  second  time,  while  he  was  yet 
shut  up  in  the  court  of  the  guard,  saying,  2 
Thus  saith  Jehovah  that  doeth  it,  Jehovah  that 
formeth  it  to  establish  it;  Jehovah  is  his  name: 
3  Call  unto  me,  and  I  will  answer  thee,  and 
will  show  thee  great  things,  and  difficult, 
which  thou  knowest  not.  4  For  thus  saith  Je- 
hovah, the  God  of  Israel,  concerning  the 
houses  of  this  city,  and  concerning  the  houses 
of  the  kings  of  Judah,  which  are  broken  down 
to   make  a  defence  against  the  mounds   and 

113 


against  the  sword;  5  while  men  come  to  fight 
with  the  Chaldeans,  and  to  fill  them  with  the 
dead  bodies  of  men,  whom  I  have  slain  in 
mine  anger  and  in  my  wrath,  and  for  all  whose 
wickedness  I  have  hid  my  face  from  this  city: 
6  Behold,  I  will  bring  it  health  and  cure,  and 
I  will  cure  them;  and  I  will  reveal  unto  them 
abundance  of  peace  and  truth.  7  And  I  will 
cause  the  captivity  of  Judah  and  the  captivity 
of  Israel  to  return,  and  will  build  them,  as  at 
the  first.  8  And  I  will  cleanse  them  from  all 
their  iniquity,  whereby  they  have  sinned 
against  me;  and  I  will  pardon  all  their  iniqui- 
ties, whereby  they  have  sinned  against  me,  and 
whereby  they  have  transgressed  against  me. 
9  And  this  city  shall  be  to  me  for  a  name  of 
joy,  for  a  praise  and  for  a  glory,  before  all  the 
nations  of  the  earth,  which  shall  hear  all  the 
good  that  I  do  unto  them,  and  shall  fear  and 
tremble  for  all  the  good  and  for  all  the  peace 
that  I  procure  unto  it. 

10  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Yet  again  there 
shall  be  heard  in  this  place,  whereof  ye  say. 
It  is  waste,  without  man  and  without  beast, 
even  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  in  the  streets 
of  Jerusalem,  that  are  desolate,  without  man 
and  without  inhabitant  and  without  beast,  1 1 
the  voice  of  joy  and  the  voice  of  gladness,  the 
voice  of  the  bridegroom  and  the  voice  of  the 

114 


bride,  the  voice  of  them  that  say,  Give  thanks 
to  Jehovah  of  hosts,  for  Jehovah  is  good,  for 
his  lovingkindness  endureth  for  ever;  and  of 
them  that  bring  sacrifices  of  thanksgiving  into 
the  house  of  Jehovah.  For  I  will  cause  the 
captivity  of  the  land  to  return  as  at  the  first, 
saith  Jehovah. 

12  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts:  Yet  again 
shall  there  be  in  this  place,  which  is  waste, 
without  man  and  without  beast,  and  in  all  the 
cities  thereof,  a  habitation  of  shepherds  caus- 
ing their  flocks  to  lie  down.  13  In  the  cities 
of  the  hill-country,  in  the  cities  of  the  low- 
land, and  in  the  cities  of  the  South,  and  in  the 
land  of  Benjamin,  and  in  the  places  about 
Jerusalem,  and  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  shall 
the  flocks  again  pass  under  the  hands  of  him 
that  numbereth  them,  saith  Jehovah. 

14  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 
that  I  will  perform  that  good  word  which  I 
have  spoken  concerning  the  house  of  Israel 
and  concerning  the  house  of  Judah.  15  In 
those  days,  and  at  that  time,  will  I  cause  a 
Branch  of  righteousness  to  grow  up  unto 
David;  and  he  shall  execute  justice  and  right- 
eousness in  the  land.  16  In  those  days  shall 
Judah  be  saved,  and  Jerusalem  shall  dwell 
safely;  and  this  is  the  name  whereby  she  shall 
be    called:    Jehovah    our    righteousness.     17 

115 


For  thus  saith  Jehovah:  David  shall  never 
want  a  man  to  sit  upon  the  throne  of  the  house 
of  Israel;  i8  neither  shall  the  priests  the  Le- 
vites  want  a  man  before  me  to  offer  burnt- 
offerings,  and  to  burn  meal-offerings,  and  to  do 
sacrifice  continually. 

19  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  unto 
Jeremiah,  saying,  20  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  If 
ye  can  break  my  covenant  of  the  day,  and  my 
covenant  of  the  night,  so  that  there  shall  not  be 
day  and  night  in  their  season;  21  then  may 
also  my  covenant  be  broken  with  David  my 
servant,  that  he  shall  not  have  a  son  to  reign 
upon  his  throne;  and  with  the  Levites  the 
priests,  my  ministers.  22  As  the  host  of 
heaven  cannot  be  numbered,  neither  the  sand 
of  the  sea  measured;  so  will  I  multiply  the 
seed  of  David  my  servant,  and  the  Levites  that 
minister  unto  me. 

23  And  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Jere- 
miah, saying,  24  Considerest  thou  not  what 
this  people  have  spoken,  saying,  The  two  fami- 
lies which  Jehovah  did  choose,  he  hath  cast 
them  off?  thus  do  they  despise  my  people,  that 
they  should  be  no  more  a  nation  before  them. 

25  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  If  my  covenant  of 
day  and  night  stand  not,  if  I  have  not  ap- 
pointed the  ordinances  of  heaven  and  earth; 

26  then  will  I  also  cast  away  the  seed  of  Ja- 

116 


cob,  and  of  David  my  servant,  so  that  I  will 
not  take  of  his  seed  to  be  rulers  over  the  seed  of 
Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob:  for  I  will  cause 
their  captivity  to  return,  and  will  have  mercy 
on  them. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

The  word  which  came  unto  Jeremiah  from 
Jehovah,  when  Nebuchadnezzar  king  of 
Babylon,  and  all  his  army,  and  all  the  king- 
doms of  the  earth  that  were  under  his  domin- 
ion, and  all  the  peoples,  were  fighting  against 
Jerusalem,  and  against  all  the  cities  thereof, 
saying:  2  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Is- 
rael, Go,  and  speak  to  Zedekiah  king  of  Ju- 
dah,  and  tell  him.  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  Be- 
hold, I  will  give  this  city  into  the  hand  of  the 
king  of  Babylon,  and  he  shall  burn  it  with 
fire:  3  and  thou  shalt  not  escape  out  of  his 
hand,  but  shalt  surely  be  taken,  and  delivered 
into  his  hand;  and  thine  eyes  shall  behold  the 
eyes  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and  he  shall  speak 
with  thee  mouth  to  mouth,  and  thou  shalt  go 
to  Babylon.  4  Yet  hear  the  word  of  Jeho- 
vah, O  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah:  Thus  saith 
Jehovah  concerning  thee,  Thou  shalt  not  die 
by  the  sword;  5  thou  shalt  die  in  peace;  and 

117 


with  the  burnings  of  thy  fathers,  the  former 
kings  that  were  before  thee,  so  shall  they  make 
a  burning  for  thee;  and  they  shall  lament  thee, 
saying,  Ah  Lord!  for  I  have  spoken  the  word, 
saith  Jehovah. 

6  Then  Jeremiah  the  prophet  spake  all 
these  words  unto  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah  in 
Jerusalem,  7  when  the  king  of  Babylon's  army 
was  fighting  against  Jerusalem,  and  against 
all  the  cities  of  Judah  that  were  left,  against 
Lachish  and  against  Azekah;  for  these  alone 
remained  of  the  cities  of  Judah  as  fortified 
cities. 

8  The  word  that  came  unto  Jeremiah  from 
Jehovah,  after  that  the  king  Zedekiah  had 
made  a  covenant  with  all  the  people  that  were 
at  Jerusalem,  to  proclaim  liberty  unto  them;  9 
that  every  man  should  let  his  man-servant,  and 
every  man  his  maid-servant,  that  is  a  Hebrew 
or  a  Hebrewess,  go  free;  that  none  should 
make  bondmen  of  them,  to  ivit,  of  a  Jew  his 
brother.  10  And  all  the  princes  and  all  the 
people  obeyed,  that  had  entered  into  the  cove- 
nant, that  every  one  should  let  his  man-serv- 
ant, and  every  one  his  maid-servant,  go  free, 
that  none  should  make  bondmen  of  them  any 
more;  they  obeyed,  and  let  them  go:  11  but 
afterwards  they  turned,  and  caused  the  serv- 
ants and  the  handmaids,  whom  they  had  let 

118 


go  free,  to  return,  and  brought  them  into  sub- 
jection for  servants  and  for  handmaids. 

12  Therefore  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to 
Jeremiah  from  Jehovah,  saying,  13  Thus 
saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel:  I  made  a 
covenant  with  your  fathers  in  the  day  that 
I  brought  them  forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt, 
out  of  the  house  of  bondage,  saying,  14  At  the 
end  of  seven  years  ye  shall  let  go  every  man 
his  brother  that  is  a  Hebrew,  that  hath  been 
sold  unto  thee,  and  hath  served  thee  six  years, 
thou  shalt  let  him  go  free  from  thee:  but  your 
fathers  hearkened  not  unto  me,  neither  in- 
clined their  ear.  15  And  ye  were  now  turned, 
and  had  done  that  which  is  right  in  mine  eyes, 
in  proclaiming  liberty  every  man  to  his  neigh- 
bor; and  ye  had  made  a  covenant  before  me 
in  the  house  which  is  called  by  my  name:  16 
but  ye  turned  and  profaned  my  name,  and 
caused  every  man  his  servant,  and  every  man 
his  handmaid,  whom  ye  had  let  go  free  at  their 
pleasure,  to  return;  and  ye  brought  them  into 
subjection,  to  be  unto  you  for  servants  and  for 
handmaids. 

17  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah:  Ye  have 
not  hearkened  unto  me,  to  proclaim  liberty, 
every  man  to  his  brother,  and  every  man  to  his 
neighbor:  behold,  I  proclaim  unto  you  a  lib- 
erty, saith  Jehovah,  to  the  sword,  to  the  pes- 

119 


tilence,  and  to  the  famine;  and  I  will  make 
you  to  be  tossed  to  and  fro  among  all  the  king- 
doms of  the  earth.  i8  And  I  will  give  the 
men  that  have  transgressed  my  covenant,  that 
have  not  performed  the  words  of  the  cove- 
nant which  they  made  before  me,  when  they 
cut  the  calf  in  twain  and  passed  between  the 
parts  thereof;  19  the  princes  of  Judah,  and 
the  princes  of  Jerusalem,  the  eunuchs,  and 
the  priests,  and  all  the  people  of  the  land,  that 
passed  between  the  parts  of  the  calf;  20  I  will 
even  give  them  into  the  hand  of  their  enemies, 
and  into  the  hand  of  them  that  seek  their  life; 
and  their  dead  bodies  shall  be  for  food  unto 
the  birds  of  the  heavens,  and  to  the  beasts  of 
the  earth.  21  And  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah 
and  his  princes  will  I  give  into  the  hand  of 
their  enemies,  and  into  the  hand  of  them  that 
seek  their  life,  and  into  the  hand  of  the  king 
of  Babylon's  army,  that  are  gone  away  from 
you  22  Behold,  I  will  command,  saith  Je- 
hovah, and  cause  them  to  return  to  this  city; 
and  they  shall  fight  against  it,  and  take  it,  and 
burn  it  with  fire:  and  I  will  make  the  cities  of 
Judah  a  desolation,  without  inhabitant. 


120 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

The  word  which  came  unto  Jeremiah  from 
Jehovah  in  the  days  of  Jehoiakim  the  son  of 
Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  saying,  2  Go  unto  the 
house  of  the  Rechabites,  and  speak  unto  them, 
and  bring  them  into  the  house  of  Jehovah,  into 
one  of  the  chambers,  and  give  them  wine  to 
drink.  3  Then  I  took  Jaazaniah  the  son  of 
Jeremiah,  the  son  of  Habazziniah,  and  his 
brethren,  and  all  his  sons,  and  the  whole  h  ^use 
of  the  Rechabites;  4  and  I  brought  them  into 
the  house  of  Jehovah,  into  the  chamber  of  the 
sons  of  Hanan  the  son  of  Igdaliah,  the  man  of 
God,  which  was  by  the  chamber  of  the  princes, 
which  was  above  the  chamber  of  Maaseiah  the 
son  of  Shallum,  the  keeper  of  the  threshold. 
5  And  I  set  before  the  sons  of  the  house  of  the 
Rechabites  bowls  full  of  wine,  and  cups;  and 
I  said  unto  them,  Drink  ye  wine.  6  But  they 
said.  We  will  drink  no  wine;  for  Jonadab  the 
son  of  Rechab,  our  father,  commanded  us, 
saying,  Ye  shall  drink  no  wine,  neither  ye,  nor 
your  sons,  for  ever:  7  neither  shall  yc  build 
house,  nor  sow  seed,  nor  plant  vineyard,  nor 
have  any;  but  all  your  days  ye  shall  dwell  in 
tents;  that  ye  may  live  many  days  in  the  land 
wherein  ye  sojourn.  8  And  we  have  obeyed 
the  voice  of  Jonadab  the  son  of  Rechab,  our 

121 


father,  in  all  that  he  charged  us,  to  drink  no 
wine  all  our  days,  we,  our  wives,  our  sons,  or 
our  daughters;  9  nor  to  build  houses  for  us 
to  dwell  in;  neither  have  we  vineyard,  nor 
field,  nor  seed:  10  but  we  have  dwelt  in  tents, 
and  have  obeyed,  and  done  according  to  all 
that  Jonadab  our  father  commanded  us.  11 
But  it  came  to  pass,  when  Nebuchadrezzar 
king  of  Babylon  came  up  into  the  land,  that 
we  said.  Come,  and  let  us  go  to  Jerusalem 
for  fear  of  the  army  of  the  Chaldeans,  and  for 
fear  of  the  army  of  the  Syrians;  so  we  dwell 
at  Jerusalem. 

12  Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  unto 
Jeremiah,  saying,  13  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of 
hosts,  the  God  of  Israel:  Go,  and  say  to  the 
men  of  Judah  and  the  inhabitants  of  Jeru- 
salem, Will  ye  not  receive  instruction  to 
hearken  to  my  words?  saith  Jehovah.  14  The 
words  of  Jonadab  the  son  of  Rechab,  that  he 
commanded  his  sons,  not  to  drink  wine,  are 
performed;  and  unto  this  day  they  drink  none, 
for  they  obey  their  father's  comrhandment. 
But  I  have  spoken  unto  you,  rising  up  early 
and  speaking;  and  ye  have  not  hearkened  unto 
me.  15  I  have  sent  also  unto  you  all  my  serv- 
ants the  prophets,  rising  up  early  and  sending 
them,  saying.  Return  ye  now  every  man  from 

122 


his  evil  way,  and  amend  your  doings,  and  go 
not  after  other  gods  to  serve  them,  and  ye  shall 
dwell  in  the  land  which  I  have  given  to  you 
and  to  your  fathers:  but  ye  have  not  inclined 
your  ear,  nor  hearkened  unto  me.  i6  Foras- 
much as  the  sons  of  Jonadab  the  son  of  Rechab 
have  performed  the  commandment  of  their 
father  which  he  commanded  them,  but  this 
people  hath  not  hearkened  unto  me;  17  there- 
fore thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  hosts,  the 
God  of  Israel:  Behold,  I  will  bring  upor  Ju- 
dah  and  upon  all  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem 
all  the  evil  that  I  have  pronounced  against 
them;  because  I  have  spoken  unto  them,  but 
they  have  not  heard;  and  I  have  called  unto 
them,  but  they  have  not  answered. 

18  And  Jeremiah  said  unto  the  house  of 
the  Rechabites,  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 
the  God  of  Israel :  Because  ye  have  obeyed  the 
commandment  of  Jonadab  your  father,  and 
kept  all  his  precepts,  and  done  according  unto 
all  that  he  commanded  you;  19  therefore  thus 
saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel: 
Jonadab  the  son  of  Rechab  shall  not  want  a 
man  to  stand  before  me  for  ever. 


123 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  fourth  year  of 
Jehoiakim  the  son  of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah, 
that  this  word  came  unto  Jeremiah  from  Je- 
hovah, saying,  2  Take  thee  a  roll  of  a  book, 
and  write  therein  all  the  words  that  I  have 
spoken  unto  thee  against  Israel,  and  against 
Judah,  and  against  all  the  nations,  from  the 
day  I  spake  unto  thee,  from  the  days  of  Josiah, 
even  unto  this  day.  3  It  may  be  that  the  house 
of  Judah  will  hear  all  the  evil  which  I  pur- 
pose to  do  unto  them;  that  they  may  return 
every  man  from  his  evil  way;  that  I  may  for- 
give their  iniquity  and  their  sin. 

4  Then  Jeremiah  called  Baruch  the  son  of 
Neriah;  and  Baruch  wrote  from  the  mouth  of 
Jeremiah  all  the  words  of  Jehovah,  which  he 
had  spoken  unto  him,  upon  a  roll  of  a  book. 
5  And  Jeremiah  commanded  Baruch,  saying, 
I  am  shut  up;  I  cannot  go  into  the  house  of 
Jehovah :  6  therefore  go  thou,  and  read  in  the 
roll,  which  thou  hast  written  from  my  mouth, 
the  words  of  Jehovah  in  the  ears  of  the  peo- 
ple in  Jehovah's  house  upon  the  fast-day;  and 
also  thou  shalt  read  them  in  the  ears  of  all 
Judah  that  come  out  of  their  cities.  7  It  may 
be  they  will  present  their  supplication  before 

124 


1 

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^H 

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^^^^^^^                ^^"^^            »*»«IM 

Then    Jeremiah    called    I'.anieh    the    son    of    Neriah.— .\.\xvi-4. 


Jehovah,  and  will  return  every  one  from  his 
evil  way;  for  great  is  the  anger  and  the  wrath 
that  Jehovah  hath  pronounced  against  this 
people.  8  And  Baruch  the  son  of  Neriah  did 
according  to  all  that  Jeremiah  the  prophet 
commanded  him,  reading  in  the  book  the 
words  of  Jehovah  in  Jehovah's  house. 

9  Now  it  came  to  pass  in  the  fifth  year  of 
Jehoiakim  the  son  of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah, 
in  the  ninth  month,  that  all  the  people  in 
Jerusalem,  and  all  the  people  that  came  froc" 
the  cities  of  Judah  unto  Jerusalem,  proclaimed 
a  fast  before  Jehovah.  lo  Then  read  Baruch 
in  the  book  the  words  of  Jeremiah  in  the  house 
of  Jehovah,  in  the  chamber  of  Gemariah  the 
son  of  Shaphan  the  scribe,  in  the  upper  court, 
at  the  entry  of  the  new  gate  of  Jehovah's  house, 
in  the  ears  of  all  the  people. 

1 1  And  when  Micaiah  the  son  of  Gemariah, 
the  son  of  Shaphan,  had  heard  out  of  the  book 
all  the  words  of  Jehovah,  12  he  went  down 
into  the  king's  house,  into  the  scribe's  cham- 
ber: and,  lo,  all  the  princes  were  sitting  there, 
to  wit,  Elishama  the  scribe,  and  Delaiah  the 
son  of  Shemaiah,  and  Elnathan  the  son  of 
Achbor,  and  Gemariah  the  son  of  Shaphan, 
and  Zedekiah  the  son  of  Hananiah,  and  all 
the  princes.  13  Then  Micaiah  declared  unto 
them  all  the  words  that  he  had  heard,  when 

125 


Baruch  read  the  book  in  the  ears  of  the  people. 
14  Therefore  all  the  princes  sent  Jehudi  the 
son  of  Nethaniah,  the  son  of  Shelemiah,  the 
son  of  Cushi,  unto  Baruch,  saying,  Take  in  thy 
hand  the  roll  wherein  thou  hast  read  in  the 
ears  of  the  people,  and  come.  So  Baruch  the 
son  of  Neriah  took  the  roll  in  his  hand,  and 
came  unto  them.  15  And  they  said  unto  him, 
Sit  down  now,  and  read  it  in  our  ears.  So 
Baruch  read  it  in  their  ears.  16  Now  it  came 
to  pass,  when  they  had  heard  all  the  words, 
they  turned  in  fear  one  toward  another,  and 
said  unto  Baruch,  We  will  surely  tell  the  king 
of  all  these  words.  17  And  they  asked 
Baruch,  saying.  Tell  us  now.  How  didst  thou 
write  all  these  words  at  his  mouth?  18  Then 
Baruch  answered  them.  He  pronounced  all 
these  words  unto  me  with  his  mouth,  and  I 
wrote  them  with  ink  in  the  book.  19  Then 
said  the  princes  unto  Baruch,  Go,  hide  thee, 
thou  and  Jeremiah;  and  let  no  man  know 
where  ye  are. 

20  And  they  went  in  to  the  king  into  the 
court;  but  they  had  laid  up  the  roll  in  the 
chamber  of  Elishama  the  scribe;  and  they  told 
all  the  words  in  the  ears  of  the  king.  21  So 
the  king  sent  Jehudi  to  fetch  the  roll;  and  he 
took  it  out  of  the  chamber  of  Elishama  the 
scribe.     And  Jehudi  read  it  in  the  ears  of  the 

126 


king,  and  in  the  ears  of  all  the  princes  that 
stood  beside  the  king.  22  Now  the  king  was 
sitting  in  the  winterhouse  in  the  ninth  month: 
and  there  was  a  fire  in  the  brazier  burning  be- 
fore him.  23  And  it  came  to  pass,  when 
Jehudi  had  read  three  or  four  leaves,  that  the 
king  cut  it  with  the  penknife,  and  cast  it  into 
the  fire  that  was  in  the  brazier,  until  all  the 
roll  was  consumed  in  the  fire  that  was  in  the 
brazier.  24  And  they  were  not  afraid,  nor 
rent  their  garments,  neither  the  king,  nor  a^y 
of  his  servants  that  heard  all  these  words.  25 
Moreover  Elnathan  and  Delaiah  and  Gema- 
riah  had  made  intercession  to  the  king  that  he 
would  not  burn  the  roll ;  but  he  would  not  hear 
them.  26  And  the  king  commanded  Jerah- 
meel  the  king's  son,  and  Seraiah  the  son  of 
Azriel,  and  Shelemiah  the  son  of  Abdeel,  to 
take  Baruch  the  scribe  and  Jeremiah  the 
prophet;  but  Jehovah  hid  them. 

27  Then  the  word  of  Jehovah  came  to  Jere- 
miah, after  that  the  king  had  burned  the  roll, 
and  the  words  which  Baruch  wrote  at  the 
mouth  of  Jeremiah,  saying,  28  Take  thee 
again  another  roll,  and  write  in  it  all  the 
former  words  that  were  in  the  first  roll,  which 
Jehoiakim  the  king  of  Judah  hath  burned. 
29  And  concerning  Jehoiakim  king  of  Judah 
thou  shalt  say.  Thus  saith  Jehovah :  Thou  hast 

127 


burned  this  roll,  saying,  Why  hast  thou  written 
therein,  saying.  The  King  of  Babylon  shall 
certainly  come  and  destroy  this  land,  and  shall 
cause  to  cease  from  thence  man  and  beast?  30 
Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  concerning  Je- 
hoiakim  king  of  Judah:  He  shall  have  none  to 
sit  upon  the  throne  of  David;  and  his  dead 
body  shall  be  cast  out  in  the  day  to  the  heat, 
and  in  the  night  to  the  frost.  31  And  I  will 
punish  him  and  his  seed  and  his  servants  for 
their  iniquity;  and  I  will  bring  upon  them,  and 
upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  and  upon 
the  men  of  Judah,  all  the  evil  that  I  have  pro- 
nounced against  them,  but  they  hearkened  not. 
32  Then  took  Jeremiah  another  roll,  and  gave 
it  to  Baruch  the  scribe,  the  son  of  Neriah,  who 
wrote  therein  from  the  mouth  of  Jeremiah  all 
the  words  of  the  book  which  Jehoiakim  king 
of  Judah  had  burned  in  the  fire;  and  there 
were  added  besides  unto  them  many  like 
words. 

CHAPTER  XXXVII 

And  Zedekiah  the  son  of  Josiah  reigned  as 
king,  instead  of  Coniah  the  son  of  Jehoiakim, 
whom  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon  made 
king  in  the  land  of  Judah.  2  But  neither  he, 
nor  his  servants,  nor  the  people  of  the  land, 

128 


And   cast   it   into  tlic   tire   that   \va>   in   the   lira/.icr. — xxxvi-J.>. 


did  hearken  unto  the  words  of  Jehovah,  which 
he  spake  by  the  prophet  Jeremiah. 

3  And  Zedekiah  the  king  sent  Jehucal  the 
son  of  Shelemiah,  and  Zephaniah  the  son  of 
Maaseiah,  the  priest,  to  the  prophet  Jeremiah, 
saying,  Pray  now  unto  Jehovah  our  God  for 
us.  4  Now  Jeremiah  came  in  and  went  out 
among  the  people;  for  they  had  not  put  him 
into  prison.  5  And  Pharaoh's  army  was  come 
forth  out  of  Egypt;  and  when  the  Chaldeans 
that  were  besieging  Jerusalem  heard  tidir<^s 
of  them,  they  brake  up  from  Jerusalem. 

6  Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  unto  the 
prophet  Jeremiah,  saying,  7  Thus  saith  Je- 
hovah, the  God  of  Israel,  Thus  shall  ye  say  to 
the  king  of  Judah,  that  sent  you  unto  me  to 
inquire  of  me :  Behold,  Pharaoh's  army,  which 
is  come  forth  to  help  you,  shall  return  to  Egypt 
into  their  own  land.  8  And  the  Chaldeans 
shall  come  again,  and  fight  against  this  city; 
and  they  shall  take  it,  and  burn  it  with  fire. 
9  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  Deceive  not  yourselves, 
saying.  The  Chaldeans  shall  surely  depart 
from  us;  for  they  shall  not  depart.  10  For 
though  ye  had  smitten  the  whole  army  of  the 
Chaldeans  that  fight  against  you,  and  there  re- 
mained but  wounded  men  among  them,  yet 
would  they  rise  up  every  man  in  his  tent,  and 
burn  this  city  with  fire. 

129 


1 1  And  it  came  to  pass  that,  when  the  army 
of  the  Chaldeans  was  broken  up  from  Jeru- 
salem for  fear  of  Pharaoh's  army,  12  then 
Jeremiah  went  forth  out  of  Jerusalem  to  go 
into  the  land  of  Benjamin,  to  receive  his  por- 
tion there,  in  the  midst  of  the  people.  13  And 
when  he  was  in  the  gate  of  Benjamin,  a  cap- 
tain of  the  ward  was  there,  whose  name  was 
Irijah,  the  son  of  Shelemiah,  the  son  of  Hana- 
niah;  and  he  laid  hold  on  Jeremiah  the 
prophet,  saying,  Thou  art  falling  away  to  the 
Chaldeans.  14  Then  said  Jeremiah,  It  is 
false;  I  am  not  falling  away  to  the  Chaldeans. 
But  he  hearkened  not  to  him;  so  Irijah  laid 
hold  on  Jeremiah,  and  brought  him  to  the 
princes.  15  And  the  princes  were  wroth  with 
Jeremiah,  and  smote  him,  and  put  him  in 
prison  in  the  house  of  Jonathan  the  scribe;  for 
they  had  made  that  the  prison. 

16  When  Jeremiah  was  come  into  the  dun- 
geon-house, and  into  the  cells,  and  Jeremiah 
had  remained  there  many  days;  17  then  Zede- 
kiah  the  king  sent,  and  fetched  him:  and  the 
king  asked  him  secretly  in  his  house,  and  said. 
Is  there  any  word  from  Jehovah?  And  Jere- 
miah said.  There  is.  He  said  also.  Thou  shalt 
be  delivered  into  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Baby- 
lon. 18  Moreover  Jeremiah  said  unto  King 
Zedekiah,  Wherein  have  I  sinned  against  thee, 

130 


or  against  thy  servants,  or  against  this  people, 
that  ye  have  put  me  in  prison?  19  Where 
now  are  your  prophets  that  prophesied  unto 
you,  saying,  The  king  of  Babylon  shall  not 
come  against  you,  nor  against  this  land?  20 
And  now  hear,  I  pray  thee,  O  my  lord  the 
king:  let  my  supplication,  I  pray  thee,  be  pre- 
sented before  thee,  that  thou  cause  me  not  to 
return  to  the  house  of  Jonathan  the  scribe,  lest 
I  die  there.  21  Then  Zedekiah  the  king  com- 
manded, and  they  committed  Jeremiah  into 
the  court  of  the  guard  ;  and  they  gave  him  daily 
a  loaf  of  bread  out  of  the  bakers'  street,  until 
all  the  bread  in  the  city  was  spent.  Thus 
Jeremiah  remained  in  the  court  of  the  guard. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

And  Shephatiah  the  son  of  Mattan,  and 
Gedaliah  the  son  of  Pashhur,  and  Jucal  the 
son  of  Shelemiah,  and  Pashhur  the  son  of 
Malchijah,  heard  the  words  that  Jeremiah 
spake  unto  all  the  people,  saying,  2  Thus  saith 
Jehovah,  He  that  abideth  in  this  city  shall  die 
by  the  sword,  by  the  famine,  and  by  the  pesti- 
lence; but  he  that  gocth  forth  to  the  Chaldeans 
shall  live,  and  his  life  shall  be  unto  him  for  a 
prey,   and   he   shall    live.     3  Thus   saith   Je- 

131 


hovah,  This  city  shall  surely  be  given  into  the 
hand  of  the  army  of  the  king  of  Babylon,  and 
he  shall  take  it.  4  Then  the  princes  said  unto 
the  king,  Let  this  man,  we  pray  thee,  be  put  to 
death;  forasmuch  as  he  weakeneth  the  hands 
of  the  men  of  war  that  remain  in  this  city,  and 
the  hands  of  all  the  people,  in  speaking  such 
words  unto  them:  for  this  man  seeketh  not  the 
welfare  of  this  people,  but  the  hurt.  5  And 
Zedekiah  the  king  said,  Behold,  he  is  in  your 
hand;  for  the  kiiig  is  not  he  that  can  do  any- 
thing against  you.  6  Then  took  they  Jere- 
miah, and  cast  him  into  the  dungeon  of  Mal- 
chijah  the  king's  son,  that  was  in  the  court  of 
the  guard :  and  they  let  down  Jeremiah  with 
cords.  And  in  the  dungeon  there  was  no 
water,  but  mire;  and  Jeremiah  sank  in  the 
mire. 

7  Now  when  Ebed-melech  the  Ethiopian,  a 
eunuch,  who  was  in  the  king's  house,  heard  that 
they  had  put  Jeremiah  in  the  dungeon  (the 
king  then  sitting  in  the  gate  of  Benjamin),  8 
Ebed-melech  went  forth  out  of  the  king's 
house,  and  spake  to  the  king,  saying,  9  My 
lord  the  king,  these  men  have  done  evil  in  all 
that  they  have  done  to  Jeremiah  the  prophet, 
whom  they  have  cast  into  the  dungeon ;  and  he 
is  like  to  die  in  the  place  where  he  is,  because 
of  the  famine ;  for  there  is  no  more  bread  in  the 

132 


So  they  drew  ui)  Jeremiah  with  the  cords,  and  took  hitn  up  out  of 
the  dungeon. — xxxviii-13. 


city.  lo  Then  the  king  commanded  Ebed- 
melech  the  Ethiopian,  saying,  Take  from 
hence  thirty  men  with  thee,  and  take  up  Jere- 
miah the  prophet  out  of  the  dungeon,  before 
he  die.  1 1  So  Ebed-melech  took  the  men 
with  him,  and  went  into  the  house  of  the  king 
under  the  treasury,  and  took  thence  rags  and 
worn-out  garments,  and  let  them  down  by 
cords  into  the  dungeon  to  Jeremiah.  12  And 
Ebed-melech  the  Ethiopian  said  unto  Jere- 
miah, Put  now  these  rags  and  worn-out  gar- 
ments under  thine  armholes  under  the  cords.* 
And  Jeremiah  did  so.  13  So  they  drew  up 
Jeremiah  with  the  cords,  and  took  him  up  out 
of  the  dungeon:  and  Jeremiah  remained  in  the 
court  of  the  guard. 

14  Then  Zedekiah  the  king  sent,  and  took 
Jeremiah  the  prophet  unto  him  into  the  third 
entry  that  is  in  the  house  of  Jehovah:  and  the 
king  said  unto  Jeremiah,  I  will  ask  thee  a 
thing;  hide  nothing  from  me.  15  Then  Jere- 
miah said  unto  Zedekiah,  If  I  declare  it  unto 
thee,  wilt  thou  not  surely  put  me  to  death?  and 
if  I  give  thee  counsel,  thou  wilt  not  hearken 
unto  me.  16  So  Zedekiah  the  king  sware 
secretly  unto  Jeremiah,  saying,  As  Jehovah 
liveth,  that  made  us  this  soul,  I  will  not  put 
thee  to  death,  neither  will  I  give  thee  into  the 
hand  of  these  men  that  seek  thy  life. 

133 


ij  Then  said  Jeremiah  unto  Zedekiah, 
Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  hosts,  the  God 
of  Israel:  If  thou  wilt  go  forth  unto  the  king 
of  Babylon's  princes,  then  thy  soul  shall  live, 
and  this  city  shall  not  be  burned  with  fire ;  and 
thou  shalt  live,  and  thy  house.  i8  But  if  thou 
wilt  not  go  forth  to  the  king  of  Babylon's 
princes,  then  shall  this  city  be  given  into  the 
hand  of  the  Chaldeans,  and  they  shall  burn  it 
with  fire,  and  thou  shalt  not  escape  out  of  their 
hand.  19  And  Zedekiah  the  king  said  unto 
Jeremiah,  I  am  afraid  of  the  Jews  that  are 
fallen  away  to  the  Chaldeans,  lest  they  deliver 
me  into  their  hand,  and  they  mock  me.  20 
But  Jeremiah  said.  They  shall  not  deliver  thee. 
Obey,  I  beseech  thee,  the  voice  of  Jehovah,  in 
that  which  I  speak  unto  thee :  so  it  shall  be  well 
with  thee,  and  thy  soul  shall  live.  21  But  if 
thou  refuse  to  go  forth,  this  is  the  word  that 
Jehovah  hath  showed  me:  22  Behold,  all  the 
women  that  are  left  in  the  king  of  Judah's 
house  shall  be  brought  forth  to  the  king  of 
Babylon's  princes,  and  those  women  shall  say. 
Thy  familiar  friends  have  set  thee  on,  and  have 
prevailed  over  thee :  now  that  thy  feet  are  sunk 
in  the  mire,  they  are  turned  away  back.  23 
And  they  shall  bring  out  all  thy  wives  and  thy 
children  to  the  Chaldeans;  and  thou  shalt  not 
escape  out  of  their  hand,  but  shalt  be  taken  by 

134 


And  they  sliall  bring  oul  all  thy  wives  and  tliy  cliildrtMi  to  the 
Chaldean-:  and  t!ion  shall  not  escape  out  of  tlieir  hand. — 
xxx\  iii-2.3. 


the  hand  of  the  king  of  Babylon:  and  thou 
shalt  cause  this  city  to  be  burned  with  fire. 

24  Then  said  Zedekiah  unto  Jeremiah,  Let 
no  man  know  of  these  words,  and  thou  shalt 
not  die.  25  But  if  the  princes  hear  that  I 
have  talked  with  thee,  and  they  come  unto  thee, 
and  say  unto  thee,  Declare  unto  us  now  what 
thou  hast  said  unto  the  king;  hide  it  not  from 
us,  and  we  will  not  put  thee  to  death;  also 
what  the  king  said  unto  thee:  26  then  thou 
shalt  say  unto  them,  I  presented  my  supplica- 
tion before  the  king,  that  he  would  not  cause 
me  to  return  to  Jonathan's  house,  to  die  there. 
27  Then  came  all  the  princes  unto  Jeremiah, 
and  asked  him;  and  he  told  them  according  to 
all  these  words  that  the  king  had  commanded. 
So  they  left  off  speaking  with  him;  for  the 
matter  was  not  perceived.  28  So  Jeremiah 
abode  in  the  court  of  the  guard  until  the  day 
that  Jerusalem  was  taken. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 

And  it  came  to  pass  when  Jerusalem  was 
taken  (in  the  ninth  year  of  Zedekiah  king  of 
Judah,  in  the  tenth  month,  came  Nebuchad- 
rezzar king  of  Babylon  and  all  his  army 
against  Jerusalem,  and  besieged  it;  2  in  the 

13s 


eleventh  year  of  Zedekiah,  in  the  fourth  month, 
the  ninth  day  of  the  month,  a  breach  was  made 
in  the  city),  3  that  all  the  princes  of  the  king 
of  Babylon  came  in,  and  sat  in  the  middle  gate, 
to  witj  Nergal-sharezer,  Samgar-nebo,  Sar- 
sechim,  Rab-saris,  Nergal-sharezer,  Rab-mag, 
with  all  the  rest  of  the  princes  of  the  king  of 
Babylon. 

4  And  it  came  to  pass  that,  when  Zedekiah 
the  king  of  Judah  and  all  the  men  of  war  saw 
them,  then  they  fled,  and  went  forth  out  of  the 
city  by  night,  by  the  way  of  the  king's  garden, 
through  the  gate  betwixt  the  two  walls;  and 
he  went  out  toward  the  Arabah.  5  But  the 
army  of  the  Chaldeans  pursued  after  them, 
and  overtook  Zedekiah  in  the  plains  of  Jeri- 
cho: and  when  they  had  taken  him,  they 
brought  him  up  to  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of 
Babylon  to  Riblah  in  the  land  of  Hamath ;  and 
he  gave  judgment  upon  him.  6  Then  the 
king  of  Babylon  slew  the  sons  of  Zedekiah  in 
Riblah  before  his  eyes:  also  the  king  of  Baby- 
lon slew  all  the  nobles  of  Judah.  7  Moreover 
he  put  out  Zedekiah's  eyes,  and  bound  him  in 
fetters,  to  carry  him  to  Babylon.  8  And  the 
Chaldeans  burned  the  king's  house,  and  the 
houses  of  the  people,  with  fire,  and  brake  down 
the  walls  of  Jerusalem.  9  Then  Nebuzara- 
dan  the  captain  of  the  guard  carried  away  cap- 

136 


l>ul  the  army  of  the  Chaldeans'  i)ursued  after  them,  and  over- 
took Zedekiah  in  the  i)laiiis  of  Jericho. — .\.\xix-5. 


tive  into  Babylon  the  residue  of  the  people  that 
remained  in  the  city,  the  deserters  also  that  fell 
away  to  him,  and  the  residue  of  the  people  that 
remained.  lo  But  Nebuzaradan  the  captain 
of  the  guard  left  of  the  poor  of  the  people,  that 
had  nothing,  in  the  land  of  Judah,  and  gave 
them  vineyards  and  fields  at  the  same  time. 

II  Now  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon 
gave  charge  concerning  Jeremiah  to  Nebu- 
zaradan the  captain  of  the  guard,  saying,  12 
Take  him,  and  look  well  to  him,  and  do  him 
no  harm;  but  do  unto  him  even  as  he  shall  say 
unto  thee.  13  So  Nebuzaradan  the  captain  of 
the  guard  sent,  and  Nebushazban,  Rab-saris, 
and  Nergal-sharezer,  Rab-mag,  and  all  the 
chief  officers  of  the  king  of  Babylon;  14  they 
sent,  and  took  Jeremiah  out  of  the  court  of 
the  guard,  and  committed  him  unto  Gedaliah 
the  son  of  Ahikam,  the  son  of  Shaphan,  that  he 
should  carry  him  home.  So  he  dwelt  among 
the  people. 

15  Now  the  w^ord  of  Jehovah  came  unto 
Jeremiah,  while  he  was  shut  up  in  the  court  of 
the  guard,  saying,  16  Go,  and  speak  to  Ebed- 
melech  the  Ethiopian,  saying.  Thus  saith  Je- 
hovah of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel :  Behold,  I 
will  bring  my  words  upon  this  city  for  evil, 
and  not  for  good;  and  they  shall  be  accom- 
plished before  thee  in  that  day.     17  But  I  will 


deliver  thee  in  that  day,  saith  Jehovah ;  and 
thou  shalt  not  be  given  into  the  hand  of  the 
men  of  whom  thou  art  afraid.  i8  For  I  will 
surely  save  thee,  and  thou  shalt  not  fall  by  the 
sword,  but  thy  life  shall  be  for  a  prey  unto 
thee;  because  thou  hast  put  thy  trust  in  me, 
saith  Jehovah. 


CHAPTER  XL 

The  w^ord  which  came  to  Jeremiah  from 
Jehovah,  after  that  Nebuzaradan  the  captain 
of  the  guard  had  let  him  go  from  Ramah, 
w^hen  he  had  taken  him  being  bound  in  chains 
among  all  the  captives  of  Jerusalem  and 
Judah,  that  were  carried  away  captive  unto 
Babylon.  2  And  the  captain  of  the  guard 
took  Jeremiah,  and  said  unto  him,  Jehovah  thy 
God  pronounced  this  evil  upon  this  place;  3 
and  Jehovah  hath  brought  it,  and  done  accord- 
ing as  he  spake :  because  ye  have  sinned  against 
Jehovah,  and  have  not  obeyed  his  voice,  there- 
fore this  thing  is  come  upon  you.  4  And  now, 
behold,  I  loose  thee  this  day  from  the  chains 
which  are  upon  thy  hand.  If  it  seem  good 
unto  thee  to  come  with  me  into  Babylon,  come, 
and  I  will  look  w^ell  unto  thee;  but  if  it  seem 
ill  unto  thee  to  come  with  me  into  Babylon, 

138 


forbear:  behold,  all  the  land  is  before  thee; 
whither  it  seemeth  good  and  right  unto  thee  to 
go,  thither  go.  5  Now  while  he  was  not  yet 
gone  back.  Go  back  then,  said  he,  to  Gedaliah 
the  son  of  Ahikam,  the  son  of  Shaphan,  whom 
the  king  of  Babylon  hath  made  governor  over 
the  cities  of  Judah,  and  dwell  with  him  among 
the  people;  or  go  wheresoever  it  seemeth  right 
unto  thee  to  go.  So  the  captain  of  the  guard 
gave  him  victuals  and  a  present,  and  let  him 
go.  6  Then  went  Jeremiah  unto  Gedaliah 
the  son  of  Ahikam  to  Mizpah,  and  dwelt  with 
him  among  the  people  that  were  left  in  the 
land. 

7  Now  when  all  the  captains  of  the  forces 
that  were  in  the  fields,  even  they  and  their  men, 
heard  that  the  king  of  Babylon  had  made  Ged- 
aliah the  son  of  Ahikam  governor  in  the  land, 
and  had  committed  unto  him  men,  and  women, 
and  children,  and  of  the  poorest  of  the  land,  of 
them  that  were  not  carried  away  captive  to 
Babylon;  8  then  they  came  to  Gedaliah  to 
Mizpah,  to  wit,  Ishmael  the  son  of  Netha- 
niah,  and  Johanan  and  Jonathan  the  sons  of 
Kareah,  and  Seraiah  the  son  of  Tanhumeth, 
and  the  sons  of  Ephai  the  Netophathite,  and 
Jazaniah  the  son  of  the  Maacathite,  they  and 
their  men.  9  And  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahi- 
kam the  son  of  Shaphan  sware  unto  them  and 

139 


to  their  men,  saying,  Fear  not  to  serve  the 
Chaldeans:  dwell  in  the  land,  and  serve  the 
king  of  Babylon,  and  it  shall  be  well  with  you. 

10  As  for  me,  behold,  I  will  dwell  at  Mizpah, 
to  stand  before  the  Chaldeans  that  shall  come 
unto  us:  but  ye,  gather  ye  wine  and  summer 
fruits  and  oil,  and  put  them  in  your  vessels, 
and  dwell  in  your  cities  that  ye  have  taken. 

11  Likewise  when  all  the  Jews  that  were  in 
Moab,  and  among  the  children  of  Ammon, 
and  in  Edom,  and  that  were  in  all  the  coun- 
tries, heard  that  the  king  of  Babylon  had  left 
a  remnant  of  Judah,  and  that  he  had  set  over 
them  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam,  the  son  of 
Shaphan;  12  then  all  the  Jews  returned  out  of 
all  places  whither  they  were  driven,  and  came 
to  the  land  of  Judah,  to  Gedaliah,  unto  Miz- 
pah, and  gathered  wine  and  summer  fruits 
very  much. 

13  Moreover  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah, 
and  all  the  captains  of  the  forces  that  were  in 
the  fields,  came  to  Gedaliah  to  Mizpah,  14 
and  said  unto  him.  Dost  thou  know  that  Baalis 
the  king  of  the  children  of  Ammon  hath  sent 
Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah  to  take  thy  life? 
But  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam  believed  them 
not.  15  Then  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah 
spake  to  Gedaliah  in  Mizpah  secretly,  saying, 
Let  me  go,  I  pray  thee,  and  I  will  slay  Ishmael 

140 


the  son  of  Nethaniah,  and  no  man  shall  know 
it:  wherefore  should  he  take  thy  life,  that  all 
the  Jews  that  are  gathered  unto  thee  should  be 
scattered,  and  the  remnant  of  Judah  perish? 
i6  But  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam  said  unto 
Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah,  Thou  shalt  not 
do  this  thing;  for  thou  speakest  falsely  of 
Ishmael. 

CHAPTER  XLI 

Now  it  came  to  pass  in  the  seventh  month, 
that  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah,  the  son  of 
Elishama,  of  the  seed  royal  and  one  of  the 
chief  officers  of  the  king,  and  ten  men  with 
him,  came  unto  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam 
to  Mizpah;  and  there  they  did  eat  bread  to- 
gether in  Mizpah.  2  Then  arose  Ishmael  the 
son  of  Nethaniah,  and  the  ten  men  that  were 
with  him,  and  smote  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahi- 
kam the  son  of  Shaphan  with  the  sword,  and 
slew  him,  whom  the  king  of  Babylon  had  made 
governor  over  the  land.  3  Ishmael  also  slew 
all  the  Jews  that  were  with  him,  to  wit,  with 
Gedaliah,  at  Mizpah,  and  the  Chaldeans  that 
were  found  there,  the  men  of  war. 

4  And  it  came  to  pass  the  second  day  after 
he  had  slain  Gedaliah,  and  no  man  knew  it,  5 
that  there  came   men   from   Shechem,   from 

141 


Shiloh,  and  from  Samaria,  even  fourscore 
men,  having  their  beards  shaven  and  their 
clothes  rent,  and  having  cut  themselves,  with 
meal-offerings  and  frankincense  in  their  hand, 
to  bring  them  to  the  house  of  Jehovah.  6 
And  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah  went  forth 
from  Mizpah  to  meet  them,  weeping  all  along 
as  he  went :  and  it  came  to  pass,  as  he  met  them, 
he  said  unto  them,  Come  to  Gedaliah  the  son 
of  Ahikam.  7  And  it  was  so,  when  they  came 
into  the  midst  of  the  city,  that  Ishmael  the  son 
of  Nethaniah  slew  them,  and  cast  them  into  the 
midst  of  the  pit,  he,  and  the  men  that  were 
with  him.  8  But  ten  men  were  found  among 
them  that  said  unto  Ishmael,  Slay  us  not;  for 
we  have  stores  hidden  in  the  field,  of  wheat, 
and  of  barley,  and  of  oil,  and  of  honey.  So  he 
forbare,  and  slew  them  not  among  their  breth- 
ren. 9  Now  the  pit  wherein  Ishmael  cast  all 
the  dead  bodies  of  the  men  whom  he  had  slain, 
by  the  side  of  Gedaliah  (the  same  was  that 
which  Asa  the  king  had  made  for  fear  of 
Baasha  king  of  Israel),  Ishmael  the  son  of 
Nethaniah  filled  it  with  them  that  were  slain. 
10  Then  Ishmael  carried  away  captive  all  the 
residue  of  the  people  that  were  in  Mizpah, 
even  the  king's  daughters,  and  all  the  people 
that  remained  in  Mizpah,  whom  Nebuzaradan 
the  captain  of  the  guard  had  committed  to 

142 


Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam;  Ishmael  the  son 
of  Nethaniah  carried  them  away  captive,  and 
departed  to  go  over  to  the  children  of  Ammon. 
II  But  when  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah, 
and  all  the  captains  of  the  forces  that  were 
with  him,  heard  of  all  the  evil  that  Ishmael 
the  son  of  Nethaniah  had  done,  12  then  they 
took  all  the  men,  and  went  to  fight  with  Ish- 
mael the  son  of  Nethaniah,  and  found  him  by 
the  great  waters  that  are  in  Gibeon.  13  Now 
it  came  to  pass  that,  when  all  the  people  that 
were  with  Ishmael  saw  Johanan  the  son  of 
Kareah,  and  all  the  captains  of  the  forces  that 
were  with  him,  then  they  were  glad.  14  So 
all  the  people  that  Ishmael  had  carried  away 
captive  from  Mizpah  turned  about  and  came 
back,  and  went  unto  Johanan,  the  son  of 
Kareah.  15  But  Ishmael  the  son  of  Netha- 
niah escaped  from  Johanan  with  eight  men, 
and  went  to  the  children  of  Ammon.  16 
Then  took  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah,  and  all 
the  captains  of  the  forces  that  were  with  him, 
all  the  remnant  of  the  people  whom  he  had  re- 
covered from  Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah, 
from  Mizpah,  after  that  he  had  slain  Geda- 
liah the  son  of  Ahikam,  to  wit,  the  men  of 
war,  and  the  women,  and  the  children,  and  the 
eunuchs,  whom  he  had  brought  back  from 
Gibeon.     17  And  they  departed  and  dwelt  in 

143 


Geruth  Chimham,  which  is  by  Bethlehem,  to 
go  to  enter  into  Egypt,  i8  because  of  the 
Chaldeans;  for  they  were  afraid  of  them,  be- 
cause Ishmael  the  son  of  Nethaniah  had  slain 
Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahikam,  whom  the  king 
of  Babylon  made  governor  over  the  land. 


CHAPTER  XLII 

Then  all  the  captains  of  the  forces,  and 
Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah,  and  Jezaniah  the 
son  of  Hoshaiah,  and  all  the  people  from  the 
least  even  unto  the  greatest,  came  near,  2  and 
said  unto  Jeremiah  the  prophet.  Let,  we  pray 
thee,  our  supplication  be  presented  before 
thee,  and  pray  for  us  unto  Jehovah  thy  God, 
even  for  all  this  remnant  (for  we  are  left  but  a 
few  of  many,  as  thine  eyes  do  behold  us),  3 
that  Jehovah  thy  God  may  show  us  the  way 
wherein  we  should  walk,  and  the  thing  that  we 
should  do.  4  Then  Jeremiah  the  prophet 
said  unto  them,  I  have  heard  you;  behold,  I 
will  pray  unto  Jehovah  your  God  according 
to  your  words;  and  it  shall  come  to  pass  that 
whatsoever  thing  Jehovah  shall  answer  you,  I 
will  declare  it  unto  you;  I  will  keep  nothing 
back  from  you.  5  Then  they  said  to  Jere- 
miah, Jehovah  be  a  true  and  faithful  witness 

144 


amongst  us,  if  we  do  not  according  to  all  the 
word  wherewith  Jehovah  thy  God  shall  send 
thee  to  us.  6  Whether  it  be  good,  or 
whether  it  be  evil,  we  will  obey  the  voice  of 
Jehovah  our  God,  to  whom  we  send  thee;  that 
it  may  be  well  with  us,  when  we  obey  the  voice 
of  Jehovah  our  God. 

7  And  it  came  to  pass  after  ten  days,  that 
the  word  of  Jehovah  came  unto  Jeremiah.  8 
Then  called  he  Johanan  the  son  of  Kareah, 
and  all  the  captains  of  the  forces  that  were 
with  him,  and  all  the  people  from  the  least 
even  to  the  greatest,  9  and  said  unto  them. 
Thus  saith  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  unto 
whom  ye  sent  me  to  present  your  supplication 
before  him:  10  If  ye  will  still  abide  in  this 
land,  then  will  I  build  you,  and  not  pull  you 
down,  and  I  will  plant  you,  and  not  pluck  you 
up ;  for  I  repent  me  of  the  evil  that  I  have  done 
unto  you.  11  Be  not  afraid  of  the  king  of 
Babylon,  of  whom  ye  are  afraid;  be  not  afraid 
of  him,  saith  Jehovah:  for  I  am  with  you  to 
save  you,  and  to  deliver  you  from  his  hand. 
12  And  I  will  grant  you  mercy,  that  he  may 
have  mercy  upon  you,  and  cause  you  to  return 
to  your  own  land.  13  But  if  ye  say.  We  will 
not  dwell  in  this  land;  so  that  ye  obey  not  the 
voice  of  Jehovah  your  God,  14  saying.  No; 
but  we  will  go  into  the  land  of  Egypt,  where 

145 


we  shall  see  no  war,  nor  hear  the  sound  of  the 
trumpet,  nor  have  hunger  of  bread ;  and  there 
will  we  dwell:  15  now  therefore  hear  ye  the 
word  of  Jehovah,  O  remnant  of  Judah:  Thus 
saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel,  If  ye 
indeed  set  your  faces  to  enter  into  Egypt,  and 
go  to  sojourn  there;  16  then  it  shall  come  to 
pass,  that  the  sword,  which  ye  fear,  shall  over- 
take you  there  in  the  land  of  Egypt;  and  the 
famine,  whereof  ye  are  afraid,  shall  follow 
hard  after  you  there  in  Egypt;  and  there  ye 
shall  die.  17  So  shall  it  be  with  all  the  men 
that  set  their  faces  to  go  into  Egypt  to  sojourn 
there:  they  shall  die  by  the  sword,  by  the 
famine,  and  by  the  pestilence;  and  none  of 
them  shall  remain  or  escape  from  the  evil  that 
I  will  bring  upon  them. 

18  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God 
of  Israel:  As  mine  anger  and  my  wrath  hath 
been  poured  forth  upon  the  inhabitants  of 
Jerusalem,  so  shall  my  wrath  be  poured  forth 
upon  you,  when  ye  shall  enter  into  Egypt;  and 
ye  shall  be  an  execration,  and  an  astonishment, 
and  a  curse,  and  a  reproach;  and  ye  shall  see 
this  place  no  more.  19  Jehovah  hath  spoken 
concerning  you,  O  remnant  of  Judah,  Go  ye 
not  into  Egypt:  know  certainly  that  I  have 
testified  unto  you  this  day.  20  For  ye  have 
dealt  deceitfully  against  your  own  souls;  for 

146 


ye  sent  me  unto  Jehovah  your  God,  saying, 
Pray  for  us  unto  Jehovah  our  God;  and  ac- 
cording unto  all  that  Jehovah  our  God  shall 
say,  so  declare  unto  us,  and  we  will  do  it.  21 
And  I  have  this  day  declared  it  to  you;  but  ye 
have  not  obeyed  the  voice  of  Jehovah  your 
God  in  anything  for  which  he  hath  sent  me 
unto  you.  22  Now  therefore  know  certainly 
that  ye  shall  die  by  the  sword,  by  the  famine, 
and  by  the  pestilence,  in  the  place  whither  ye 
desire  to  go  to  sojourn  there. 


CHAPTER  XLIII 

And  it  came  to  pass  that,  when  Jeremiah 
had  made  an  end  of  speaking  unto  all  the  peo- 
ple all  the  words  of  Jehovah  their  God,  where- 
with Jehovah  their  God  had  sent  him  to  them, 
even  all  these  words,  2  then  spake  Azariah  the 
son  of  Hoshaiah,  and  Johanan  the  son  of 
Kareah,  and  all  the  proud  men,  saying  unto 
Jeremiah,  Thou  speakest  falsely:  Jehovah  our 
God  hath  not  sent  thee  to  say.  Ye  shall  not  go 
into  Egypt  to  sojourn  there;  3  but  Baruch  the 
son  of  Neriah  setteth  thee  on  against  us,  to  de- 
liver us  into  the  hand  of  the  Chaldeans,  that 
they  may  put  us  to  death,  and  carry  us  away 
captive  to  Babylon.     4  So  Johanan  the  son  of 

147 


Kareah,  and  all  the  captains  of  the  forces,  and 
all  the  people,  obeyed  not  the  voice  of  Jehovah, 
to  dwell  in  the  land  of  Judah.  5  But  Johanan 
the  son  of  Kareah,  and  all  the  captains  of  the 
forces,  took  all  the  remnant  of  Judah,  that 
were  returned  from  all  the  nations  whither 
they  had  been  driven,  to  sojourn  in  the  land  of 
Judah;  6  the  men,  and  the  women,  and  the 
children,  and  the  king's  daughters,  and  every 
person  that  Nebuzaradan  the  captain  of  the 
guard  had  left  with  Gedaliah  the  son  of  Ahi- 
kam,  the  son  of  Shaphan;  and  Jeremiah  the 
prophet,  and  Baruch  the  son  of  Neriah.  7 
And  they  came  into  the  land  of  Egypt;  for  they 
obeyed  not  the  voice  of  Jehovah:  and  they 
came  unto  Tahpanhes. 

8  Then  came  the  word  of  Jehovah  unto 
Jeremiah  in  Tahpanhes,  saying,  9  Take  great 
stones  in  thy  hand,  and  hide  them  in  mortar 
in  the  brickwork,  which  is  at  the  entry  of 
Pharaoh's  house  in  Tahpanhes,  in  the  sight  of 
the  men  of  Judah ;  10  and  say  unto  them,  Thus 
saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel:  Be- 
hold, I  will  send  and  take  Nebuchadrezzar  the 
king  of  Babylon,  my  servant,  and  will  set  his 
throne  upon  these  stones  that  I  have  hid;  and 
he  shall  spread  his  royal  pavilion  over  them. 
1 1  And  he  shall  come,  and  shall  smite  the  land 
of  Egypt;  such  as  are  for  death  shall  be  given 

148 


X   ^ 


to  death,  and  such  as  are  for  captivity  to  cap- 
tivity, and  such  as  are  for  the  sword  to  the 
sword.  12  And  I  will  kindle  a  fire  in  the 
houses  of  the  gods  of  Egypt;  and  he  shall  burn 
them,  and  carry  them  away  captive;  and  he 
shall  array  himself  with  the  land  of  Egypt,  as 
a  shepherd  putteth  on  his  garment;  and  he 
shall  go  forth  from  thence  in  peace.  13  He 
shall  also  break  the  pillars  of  Beth-shemesh, 
that  is  in  the  land  of  Egypt;  and  the  houses  of 
the  gods  of  Egypt  shall  he  burn  with  fire. 


CHAPTER  XLIV 

The  word  that  came  to  Jeremiah  concern- 
ing all  the  Jews  that  dwelt  in  the  land  of 
Egypt,  that  dwelt  at  Migdol,  and  at  Tahpan- 
hes,  and  at  Memphis,  and  in  the  country  of 
Pathros,  saying,  2  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 
the  God  of  Israel:  Ye  have  seen  all  the  evil 
that  I  have  brought  upon  Jerusalem,  and  upon 
all  the  cities  of  Judah;  and,  behold,  this  day 
they  are  a  desolation,  and  no  man  dwelleth 
therein,  3  because  of  their  wickedness  which 
they  have  committed  to  provoke  me  to  anger, 
in  that  they  went  to  burn  incense,  and  to  serve 
other  gods,  that  they  knew  not,  neither  they, 

149 


nor  ye,  nor  your  fathers.  4  Howbeit  I  sent 
unto  you  all  my  servants  the  prophets,  rising 
up  early  and  sending  them,  saying.  Oh,  do  not 
this  abominable  thing  that  I  hate.  5  But  they 
hearkened  not,  nor  inclined  their  ear  to  turn 
from  their  wickedness,  to  burn  no  incense  unto 
other  gods.  6  Wherefore  my  wrath  and  mine 
anger  was  poured  forth,  and  was  kindled  in 
the  cities  of  Judah  and  in  the  streets  of  Jeru- 
salem; and  they  are  wasted  and  desolate,  as 
it  is  this  day.  7  Therefore  now  thus  saith  Je- 
hovah, the  God  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel: 
Wherefore  commit  ye  this  great  evil  against 
your  own  souls,  to  cut  off  from  you  man  and 
woman,  infant  and  suckling,  out  of  the  midst 
of  Judah,  to  leave  you  none  remaining;  8  in 
that  ye  provoke  me  unto  anger  with  the  works 
of  your  hands,  burning  incense  unto  other  gods 
in  the  land  of  Egypt,  whither  ye  are  gone  to  so- 
journ ;  that  ye  may  be  cut  off,  and  that  ye  may 
be  a  curse  and  a  reproach  among  all  the  na- 
tions of  the  earth?  9  Have  ye  forgotten  the 
wickedness  of  your  fathers,  and  the  wickedness 
of  the  kings  of  Judah,  and  the  wickedness  of 
their  wives,  and  your  own  wickedness,  and  the 
wickedness  of  your  wives,  which  they  com- 
mitted in  the  land  of  Judah,  and  in  the  streets 
of  Jerusalem?  10  They  are  not  humbled  even 
unto  this  day,  neither  have  they  feared,  nor 

150 


For  I  will  punish  them  that  dwell  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  as   1  have 
punished  Jerusalem. — xliv-13. 


walked  in  my  law,  nor  in  my  statutes,  that  I  set 
before  you  and  before  your  fathers. 

1 1  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts, 
the  God  of  Israel:  Behold,  I  will  set  my  face 
against  you  for  evil,  even  to  cut  ofif  all  Judah. 

12  And  I  will  take  the  remnant  of  Judah,  that 
have  set  their  faces  to  go  into  the  land  of  Egypt 
to  sojourn  there,  and  they  shall  all  be  con- 
sumed; in  the  land  of  Egypt  shall  they  fall; 
they  shall  be  consumed  by  the  sword  and  by 
the  famine;  they  shall  die,  from  the  least  even 
unto  the  greatest,  by  the  sword  and  by  the 
famine;  and  they  shall  be  an  execration,  and 
an  astonishment,  and  a  curse,  and  a  reproach. 

13  For  I  will  punish  them  that  dwell  in  the 
land  of  Egypt,  as  I  have  punished  Jerusalem, 
by  the  sword,  by  the  famine,  and  by  the  pesti- 
lence ;  14  so  that  none  of  the  remnant  of  Judah, 
that  are  gone  into  the  land  of  Egypt  to  sojourn 
there,  shall  escape  or  be  left,  to  return  into  the 
land  of  Judah,  to  which  they  have  a  desire  to 
return  to  dwell  there:  for  none  shall  return 
save  such  as  shall  escape. 

15  Then  all  the  men  who  knew  that  their 
wives  burned  incense  unto  other  gods,  and  all 
the  women  that  stood  by,  a  great  assembly, 
even  all  the  people  that  dwelt  in  the  land  of 
Egypt,  in  Pathros,  answered  Jeremiah,  saying, 
16  As  for  the  word  that  thou  hast  spoken  unto 

151 


us  in  the  name  of  Jehovah,  we  will  not  hearken 
unto  thee.  17  But  we  will  certainly  perform 
every  word  that  is  gone  forth  out  of  our  mouth, 
to  burn  incense  unto  the  queen  of  heaven,  and 
to  pour  out  drink-offerings  unto  her,  as  we 
have  done,  we  and  our  fathers,  our  kings  and 
our  princes,  in  the  cities  of  Judah,  and  in  the 
streets  of  Jerusalem;  for  then  had  we  plenty  of 
victuals,  and  were  well,  and  saw  no  evil.  18 
But  since  we  left  off  burning  incense  to  the 
queen  of  heaven,  and  pouring  out  drink-ofifer- 
ings  unto  her,  we  have  wanted  all  things,  and 
have  been  consumed  by  the  sword  and  by  the 
famine.  19  And  when  we  burned  incense  to 
the  queen  of  heaven,  and  poured  out  drink- 
offerings  unto  her,  did  we  make  her  cakes  to 
worship  her,  and  pour  out  drink-ofiferings  unto 
her,  without  our  husbands? 

20  Then  Jeremiah  said  unto  all  the  people, 
to  the  men,  and  to  the  women,  even  to  all  the 
people  that  had  given  him  that  answer,  saying, 

21  The  incense  that  ye  burned  in  the  cities  of 
Judah,  and  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  ye  and 
your  fathers,  your  kings  and  your  princes,  and 
the  people  of  the  land,  did  not  Jehovah  re- 
member them,  and  came  it  not  into  his  mind? 

22  so  that  Jehovah  could  no  longer  bear,  be- 
cause of  the  evil  of  your  doings,  and  because 
of  the  abominations  which  ye  have  committed ; 

152 


therefore  is  your  land  become  a  desolation,  and 
an  astonishment,  and  a  curse,  without  inhabi- 
tant, as  it  is  this  day.  23  Because  ye  have 
burned  incense,  and  because  ye  have  sinned 
against  Jehovah,  and  have  not  obeyed  the  voice 
of  Jehovah,  nor  walked  in  his  law,  nor  in  his 
statutes,  nor  in  his  testimonies;  therefore  this 
evil  is  happened  unto  you,  as  it  is  this  day. 

24  Moreover  Jeremiah  said  unto  all  the 
people,  and  to  all  the  women.  Hear  the  word 
of  Jehovah,  all  Judah  that  are  in  the  land  of 
Egypt:  25  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the 
God  of  Israel,  saying,  Ye  and  your  wives  have 
both  spoken  with  your  mouths,  and  with  your 
hands  have  fulfilled  it,  saying,  We  will  surely 
perform  our  vows  that  we  have  vowed,  to  burn 
incense  to  the  queen  of  heaven,  and  to  pour  out 
drink-oflferings  unto  her:  establish  then  your 
vows,  and  perform  your  vows.  26  Therefore 
hear  ye  the  word  of  Jehovah,  all  Judah  that 
dwell  in  the  land  of  Egypt:  Behold,  I  have 
sworn  by  my  great  name,  saith  Jehovah,  that 
my  name  shall  no  more  be  named  in  the  mouth 
of  any  man  of  Judah  in  all  the  land  of  Egypt, 
saying,  As  the  Lord  Jehovah  liveth.  27  Be- 
hold, I  watch  over  them  for  evil,  and  not  for 
good ;  and  all  the  men  of  Judah  that  are  in  the 
land  of  Egypt  shall  be  consumed  by  the  sword 
and  by  the  famine,  until  there  be  an  end  of 

153 


them.  28  And  they  that  escape  the  sword 
shall  return  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  into  the 
land  of  Judah,  few  in  number;  and  all  the 
remnant  of  Judah,  that  are  gone  into  the  land 
of  Egypt  to  sojourn  there,  shall  know  whose 
word  shall  stand,  mine,  or  theirs.  29  And  this 
shall  be  the  sign  unto  you,  saith  Jehovah,  that 
I  will  punish  you  in  this  place,  that  ye  may 
know  that  my  words  shall  surely  stand  against 
you  for  evil:  30  Thus  saith  Jehovah,  Behold, 
I  will  give  Pharaoh  Hophra  king  of  Egypt 
into  the  hand  of  his  enemies,  and  into  the  hand 
of  them  that  seek  his  life;  as  I  gave  Zedekiah 
king  of  Judah  into  the  hand  of  Nebuchadrez- 
zar king  of  Babylon,  who  was  his  enemy,  and 
sought  his  life. 

CHAPTER  XLV 

The  word  that  Jeremiah  the  prophet  spake 
unto  Baruch  the  son  of  Neriah,  when  he  wrote 
these  words  in  a  book  at  the  mouth  of  Jere- 
miah, in  the  fourth  year  of  Jehoiakim  the  son 
of  Josiah,  king  of  Judah,  saying,  2  Thus  saith 
Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  unto  thee,  O 
Baruch:  3  Thou  didst  say,  Woe  is  me  now! 
for  Jehovah  hath  added  sorrow  to  my  pain;  I 
am  weary  with  my  groaning,  and  I  find  no  rest. 
4  Thus  shalt  thou  say  unto  him,  Thus  saith 

154 


Jehovah :  Behold,  that  which  I  have  built  will 
I  break  down,  and  that  which  I  have  planted 
I  will  pluck  up;  and  this  in  the  whole  land. 
5  And  seekest  thou  great  things  for  thyself? 
seek  them  not;  for,  behold,  I  will  bring  evil 
upon  all  flesh,  saith  Jehovah;  but  thy  life  will 
I  give  unto  thee  for  a  prey  in  all  places  whither 
thou  goest. 

CHAPTER  XLVI 

The  word  of  Jehovah  which  came  to  Jere- 
miah the  prophet  concerning  the  nations. 

2  Of  Egypt:  concerning  the  army  of 
Pharaoh-neco  king  of  Egypt,  which  was  by  the 
river  Euphrates  in  Carchemish,  which  Ne- 
buchadrezzar king  of  Babylon  smote  in  the 
fourth  year  of  Jehoiakim  the  son  of  Josiah, 
king  of  Judah. 

3  Prepare  ye  the  buckler  and  shield,  and 
draw  near  to  battle.  4  Harness  the  horses, 
and  get  up,  ye  horsemen,  and  stand  forth  with 
your  helmets;  furbish  the  spears,  put  on  the 
coats  of  mail.  5  Wherefore  have  I  seen  it? 
they  are  dismayed  and  are  turned  backward; 
and  their  mighty  ones  are  beaten  down,  and  are 
fled  apace,  and  look  not  back:  terror  is  on 
every  side,  saith  Jehovah.  6  Let  not  the  swift 
flee  away,  nor  the  mighty  man  escape;  in  the 


north  by  the  river  Euphrates  have  they  stum- 
bled and  fallen.  7  Who  is  this  that  riseth  up 
like  the  Nile,  whose  waters  toss  themselves  like 
the  rivers?  8  Egypt  riseth  up  like  the  Nile, 
and  his  waters  toss  themselves  like  the  rivers : 
and  he  saith,  I  will  rise  up,  I  will  cover 
the  earth;  I  will  destroy  cities  and  the  in- 
habitants thereof.  9  Go  up,  ye  horses;  and 
rage,  ye  chariots;  and  let  the  mighty  men  go 
forth:  Cush  and  Put,  that  handle  the  shield; 
and  the  Ludim,  that  handle  and  bend  the  bow. 
10  For  that  day  is  a  day  of  the  Lord  Jehovah 
of  hosts,  a  day  of  vengeance,  that  he  may 
avenge  him  of  his  adversaries:  and  the  sword 
shall  devour  and  be  satiate,  and  shall  drink  its 
fill  of  their  blood;  for  the  Lord  Jehovah  of 
hosts  hath  a  sacrifice  in  the  north  country  by 
the  River  Euphrates.  11  Go  up  into  Gilead, 
and  take  balm,  O  virgin  daughter  of  Egypt: 
in  vain  dost  thou  use  many  medicines;  there  is 
no  healing  for  thee.  12  The  nations  have 
heard  of  thy  shame,  and  the  earth  is  full  of 
thy  cry;  for  the  mighty  man  hath  stumbled 
against  the  mighty,  they  are  fallen  both  of 
them  together. 

13  The  word  that  Jehovah  spake  to  Jere- 
miah the  prophet,  how  that  Nebuchadrezzar 
king  of  Babylon  should  come  and  smite  the 
land  of  Egypt. 

156 


14  Declare  ye  in  Egypt,  and  publish  in 
Migdol,  and  publish  in  Memphis  and  in  Tah- 
panhes:  say  ye,  Stand  forth,  and  prepare  thee; 
for  the  sword  hath  devoured  round  about  thee. 

15  Why  are  thy  strong  ones  swept  away?  they 
stood  not,  because  Jehovah  did  drive  them. 

16  He  made  many  to  stumble,  yea,  they  fell 
one  upon  another:  and  they  said,  Arise,  and 
let  us  go  again  to  our  own  people,  and  to  the 
land  of  our  nativity,  from  the  oppressing 
sword.  17  They  cried  there,  Pharaoh  king  of 
Egypt  is  but  a  noise;  he  hath  let  the  appointed 
time  pass  by.  18  As  I  live,  saith  the  King, 
whose  name  is  Jehovah  of  hosts,  surely  like 
Tabor  among  the  mountains,  and  like  Carmel 
by  the  sea,  so  shall  he  come.  19  O  thou 
daughter  that  dwellest  in  Egypt,  furnish  thy- 
self to  go  into  captivity;  for  Memphis  shall 
become  a  desolation,  and  shall  be  burnt  up, 
without  inhabitant.  20  Egypt  is  a  very  fair 
heifer;  but  destruction  out  of  the  north  is  come, 
it  is  come.  21  Also  her  hired  men  in  the 
midst  of  her  are  like  calves  of  the  stall;  for 
they  also  are  turned  back,  they  are  fled  away 
together,  they  did  not  stand:  for  the  day  of 
their  calamity  is  come  upon  them,  the  time  of 
their  visitation.  22  The  sound  thereof  shall 
go  like  the  serpent;  for  they  shall  march  with 
an  army,  and  come  against  her  with  axes,  as 

157 


hewers  of  wood.  23  They  shall  cut  down  her 
forest,  saith  Jehovah,  though  it  cannot  be 
searched;  because  they  are  more  than  the 
locusts,  and  are  innumerable.  24  The  daugh- 
ter of  Egypt  shall  he  put  to  shame;  she  shall 
be  delivered  into  the  hand  of  the  people  of  the 
north.  25  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God  of 
Israel,  saith:  Behold,  I  will  punish  Amon  of 
No,  and  Pharaoh,  and  Egypt,  with  her  gods, 
and  her  kings;  even  Pharaoh,  and  them  that 
trust  in  him:  26  and  I  will  deliver  them  into 
the  hand  of  those  that  seek  their  lives,  and  into 
the  hand  of  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon, 
and  into  the  hand  of  his  servants;  and  after- 
wards it  shall  be  inhabited,  as  in  the  days  of 
old,  saith  Jehovah. 

27  But  fear  not  thou,  O  Jacob  my  servant, 
neither  be  dismayed,  O  Israel:  for,  lo,  I  will 
save  thee  from  afar,  and  thy  seed  from  the  land 
of  their  captivity;  and  Jacob  shall  return,  and 
shall  be  quiet  and  at  ease,  and  none  shall  make 
him  afraid.  28  Fear  not  thou,  O  Jacob  my 
servant,  saith  Jehovah;  for  I  am  with  thee: 
for  I  will  make  a  full  end  of  all  the  nations 
whither  I  have  driven  thee;  but  I  will  not 
make  a  full  end  of  thee,  but  I  will  correct  thee 
in  measure,  and  will  in  no  wise  leave  thee  un- 
punished. 

158 


CHAPTER  XLVII 

The  word  of  Jehovah  that  came  to  Jere- 
miah the  prophet  concerning  the  Philistines, 
before  that  Pharaoh  smote  Gaza. 

2  Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Behold,  waters  rise 
up  out  of  the  north,  and  shall  become  an  over- 
flowing stream,  and  shall  overflow  the  land 
and  all  that  is  therein,  the  city  and  them  that 
dwell  therein;  and  the  men  shall  cry.  and  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  land  shall  wail.  3  At 
the  noise  of  the  stamping  of  the  hoofs  of  his 
strong  ones,  at  the  rushing  of  his  chariots,  at 
the  rumbling  of  his  wheels,  the  fathers  look  not 
back  to  their  children  for  feebleness  of  hands; 
4  because  of  the  day  that  cometh  to  destroy  all 
the  Philistines,  to  cut  ofif  from  Tyre  and  Sidon 
every  helper  that  remaineth  :  for  Jehovah  will 
destroy  the  Philistines,  the  remnant  of  the  isle 
of  Caphtor.  5  Baldness  is  come  upon  Gaza; 
Ashkelon  is  brought  to  naught,  the  remnant  of 
their  valley:  how  long  wilt  thou  cut  thyself? 
6  O  thou  sword  of  Jehovah,  how  long  will  it 
be  ere  thou  be  quiet?  put  up  thyself  into  thy 
scabbard  ;  rest,  and  be  still.  7  How  canst  thou 
be  quiet,  seeing  Jehovah  hath  given  thee  a 
charge?  Against  Ashkelon,  and  against  the 
sea-shore,  there  hath  he  appointed  it. 

159 


CHAPTER  XLVIII 

Of  Moab.  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the 
God  of  Israel:  Woe  unto  Nebo!  for  it  is  laid 
waste;  Kiriathaim  is  put  to  shame,  it  is  taken; 
Misgab  is  put  to  shame  and  broken  down.  2 
The  praise  of  Moab  is  no  more;  in  Heshbon 
they  have  devised  evil  against  her:  Come,  and 
let  us  cut  her  off  from  being  a  nation.  Thou 
also,  O  Madmen,  shalt  be  brought  to  silence; 
the  sword  shall  pursue  thee.  3  The  sound  of 
a  cry  from  Horonaim,  desolation  and  great  de- 
struction! 4  Moab  is  destroyed;  her  little 
ones  have  caused  a  cry  to  be  heard.  5  For  by 
the  ascent  of  Luhith  with  continual  weeping 
shall  they  go  up;  for  at  the  descent  of  Horo- 
naim they  have  heard  the  distress  of  the  cry  of 
destruction.  6  Flee,  save  your  lives,  and  be 
like  the  heath  in  the  wilderness.  7  For,  be- 
cause thou  hast  trusted  in  thy  works  and  in  thy 
treasures,  thou  also  shalt  be  taken :  and  Che- 
mosh  shall  go  forth  into  captivity,  his  priests 
and  his  princes  together.  8  And  the  destroyer 
shall  come  upon  every  city,  and  no  city  shall 
escape;  the  valley  also  shall  perish,  and  the 
plain  shall  be  destroyed;  as  Jehovah  hath 
spoken.  9  Give  wings  unto  Moab,  that  she 
may  fly  and  get  her  away:  and  her  cities  shall 
become   a  desolation,  without  any   to   dwell 

160 


therein.  lo  Cursed  be  he  that  doeth  the  work 
of  Jehovah  negligently;  and  cursed  be  he  that 
keepeth  back  his  sword  from  blood. 

1 1  Moab  hath  been  at  ease  from  his  youth, 
and  he  hath  settled  on  his  lees,  and  hath  not 
been  emptied  from  vessel  to  vessel,  neither 
hath  he  gone  into  captivity:  therefore  his  taste 
remaineth  in  him,  and  his  scent  is  not  changed. 
12  Therefore,  behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Je- 
hovah, that  I  w^ill  send  unto  him  them  that 
pour  off,  and  they  shall  pour  him  off;  and  they 
shall  empt>'  his  vessels,  and  break  their  bottles 
in  pieces.  13  And  Moab  shall  be  ashamed  of 
Chemosh,  as  the  house  of  Israel  was  ashamed 
of  Beth-el  their  confidence.  14  How  say  ye. 
We  are  mighty  men,  and  valiant  men  for  the 
war?  15  Moab  is  laid  waste,  and  they  are 
gone  up  into  his  cities,  and  his  chosen  young 
men  are  gone  down  to  the  slaughter,  saith  the 
King,  whose  name  is  Jehovah  of  hosts.  16 
The  calamity  of  Moab  is  near  to  come,  and  his 
affliction  hasteth  fast.  17  All  ye  that  are 
round  about  him,  bemoan  him,  and  all  ye  that 
know  his  name;  say,  How  is  the  strong  staff 
broken,  the  beautiful  rod!  18  O  thou  daugh- 
ter that  dwellest  in  Dibon,  come  down  from 
thy  glory,  and  sit  in  thirst;  for  the  destroyer  of 
Moab  is  come  up  against  thee,  he  hath  de- 

161 


stroyed  thy  strongholds.  19  O  inhabitant  of 
Aroer,  stand  by  the  way,  and  watch :  ask  him 
that  fleeth,  and  her  that  escapeth;  say,  What 
hath  been  done?  20  Moab  is  put  to  shame; 
for  it  is  broken  down:  wail  and  cry;  tell  ye  it 
by  the  Arnon,  that  Moab  is  laid  waste.  21 
And  judgment  is  come  upon  the  plain  country, 
upon  Holon,  and  upon  Jahzah,  and  upon 
Mephaath,  22  and  upon  Dibon,  and  upon 
Nebo,  and  upon  Beth-diblathaim,  23  and  upon 
Kiriathaim,  and  upon  Beth-gamul,  and  upon 
Beth-meon,  24  and  upon  Kerioth,  and  upon 
Bozrah,  and  upon  all  the  cities  of  the  land  of 
Moab,  far  or  near.  25  The  horn  of  Moab  is 
cut  off,  and  his  arm  is  broken,  saith  Jehovah. 

26  Make  ye  him  drunken ;  for  he  magnified 
himself  against  Jehovah :  and  Moab  shall  wal- 
low in  his  vomit,  and  he  also  shall  be  in  deri- 
sion. 27  For  was  not  Israel  a  derision  unto 
thee?  was  he  found  among  thieves?  for  as  often 
as  thou  speakest  of  him,  thou  waggest  the  head. 
28  O  ye  inhabitants  of  Moab,  leave  the  cities, 
and  dwell  in  the  rock;  and  be  like  the  dove 
that  maketh  her  nest  over  the  mouth  of  the 
abyss.  29  We  have  heard  of  the  pride  of 
Moab,  that  he  is  very  proud ;  his  loftiness,  and 
his  pride,  and  his  arrogancy,  and  the  haughti- 
ness of  his  heart.  30  I  know  his  wrath,  saith 
Jehovah,  that  it  is  naught;  his  boastings  have 

162 


wrought  nothing.  31  Therefore  will  I  wail 
for  Moab;  yea,  I  will  cry  out  for  all  Moab: 
for  the  men  of  Kir-heres  shall  they  mourn. 

32  With  more  than  the  weeping  of  Jazer  will 
I  weep  for  thee,  O  vine  of  Sibmah:  thy 
branches  passed  over  the  sea,  they  reached  even 
to  the  sea  of  Jazer:  upon  thy  summer  fruits 
and  upon  thy  vintage  the  destroyer  is  fallen. 

33  And  gladness  and  joy  is  taken  away  from 
the  fruitful  field  and  from  the  land  of  Moab; 
and  I  have  caused  wine  to  cease  from  the  wine- 
presses: none  shall  tread  with  shouting;  the 
shouting  shall  be  no  shouting.  34  From  the 
cry  of  Heshbon  even  unto  Elealeh,  even  unto 
Jahaz  have  they  uttered  their  voice,  from  Zoar 
even  unto  Horonaim,  to  Eglath-shelishiyah : 
for  the  waters  of  Nimrim  also  shall  become 
desolate.  35  Moreover  I  will  cause  to  cease 
in  Moab,  saith  Jehovah,  him  that  ofifereth  in 
the  high  place,  and  him  that  burneth  incense 
to  his  gods. 

36  Therefore  my  heart  soundeth  for  Moab 
like  pipes,  and  my  heart  soundeth  like  pipes 
for  the  men  of  Kir-heres :  therefore  the  abund- 
ance that  he  hath  gotten  is  perished.  37  For 
every  head  is  bald,  and  every  beard  clipped: 
upon  all  the  hands  are  cuttings,  and  upon  the 
loins  sackcloth.  38  On  all  the  housetops  of 
Moab  and  in  the  streets  thereof  there  is  la- 

163 


mentation  every  where;  for  I  have  broken 
Moab  like  a  vessel  wherein  none  delighteth, 
saith  Jehovah.  39  How  is  it  broken  down! 
how  do  they  wail!  how  hath  Moab  turned  the 
back  with  shame!  so  shall  Moab  become  a  de- 
rision and  a  terror  to  all  that  are  round  about 
him.  40  For  thus  saith  Jehovah:  Behold,  he 
shall  fly  as  an  eagle,  and  shall  spread  out  his 
wings  against  Moab.  41  Kerioth  is  taken, 
and  the  strongholds  are  seized,  and  the  heart 
of  the  mighty  men  of  Moab  at  that  day  shall 
be  as  the  heart  of  a  woman  in  her  pangs.  42 
And  Moab  shall  be  destroyed  from  being  a 
people,  because  he  hath  magnified  himself 
against  Jehovah.  43  Fear,  and  the  pit,  and 
the  snare,  are  upon  thee,  O  inhabitants  of 
Moab,  saith  Jehovah.  44  He  that  fleeth  from 
the  fear  shall  fall  into  the  pit;  and  he  that  get- 
teth  up  out  of  the  pit  shall  be  taken  in  the 
snare:  for  I  will  bring  upon  him,  even  upon 
Moab,  the  year  of  their  visitation,  saith  Je- 
hovah. 

45  They  that  fled  stand  without  strength 
under  the  shadow  of  Heshbon;  for  a  fire  is 
gone  forth  out  of  Heshbon,  and  a  flame  from 
the  midst  of  Sihon,  and  hath  devoured  the  cor- 
ner of  Moab,  and  the  crown  of  the  head  of  the 
tumultuous  ones.  46  Woe  unto  thee,  O 
Moab!  the  people  of  Chemosh  is  undone;  for 

164 


thy  sons  are  taken  away  captive,  and  thy 
daughters  into  captivity.  47  Yet  will  I  bring 
back  the  captivity  of  Moab  in  the  latter  days, 
saith  Jehovah.  Thus  far  is  the  judgment  of 
Moab. 


CHAPTER  XLIX 

Of  the  children  of  Ammon.  Thus  saith  Je- 
hovah: Hath  Israel  no  sons?  hath  he  no  heir? 
why  then  doth  Malcam  possess  Gad,  and  his 
people  dwell  in  the  cities  thereof?  2  There- 
fore, behold,  the  days  come,  saith  Jehovah, 
that  I  will  cause  an  alarm  of  war  to  be  heard 
against  Rabbah  of  the  children  of  Ammon; 
and  it  shall  become  a  desolate  heap,  and  her 
daughters  shall  be  burned  with  fire:  then  shall 
Israel  possess  them  that  did  possess  him,  saith 
Jehovah.  3  Wail,  O  Heshbon,  for  Ai  is  laid 
waste;  cry,  ye  daughters  of  Rabbah,  gird  you 
with  sackcloth:  lament,  and  run  to  and  fro 
among  the  fences;  for  Malcam  shall  go  into 
captivity,  his  priests  and  his  princes  together. 
4  Wherefore  gloriest  thou  in  the  valleys,  thy 
flowing  valley,  O  backsliding  daughter?  that 
trusted  in  her  treasures,  saying,  Who  shall 
come  unto  me?  5  Behold,  I  will  bring  a  fear 
upon  thee,  saith  the  Lord,  Jehovah  of  hosts, 

16:; 


from  all  that  are  round  about  thee;  and  ye 
shall  be  driven  out  every  man  right  forth,  and 
there  shall  be  none  to  gather  together  the  fugi- 
tives. 6  But  afterw^ard  I  v^^ill  bring  back  the 
captivity  of  the  children  of  Ammon,  saith  Je- 
hovah. 

7  Of  Edom.  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts: 
Is  wisdom  no  more  in  Teman?  is  counsel  per- 
ished from  the  prudent?  is  their  wisdom  van- 
ished? 8  Flee  ye,  turn  back,  dwell  in  the 
depths,  O  inhabitants  of  Dedan;  for  I  will 
bring  the  calamity  of  Esau  upon  him,  the  time 
that  I  shall  visit  him.  9  If  grape-gatherers 
came  to  thee,  would  they  not  leave  some  glean- 
ing grapes?  if  thieves  by  night,  would  they  not 
destroy  till  they  had  enough?  10  But  I  have 
made  Esau  bare,  I  have  uncovered  his  secret 
places,  and  he  shall  not  be  able  to  hide  him- 
self: his  seed  is  destroyed,  and  his  brethren, 
and  his  neighbors;  and  he  is  not.  11  Leave 
thy  fatherless  children,  I  will  preserve  them 
alive;  and  let  thy  widows  trust  in  me.  12  For 
thus  saith  Jehovah :  Behold,  they  to  whom  it 
pertained  not  to  drink  of  the  cup  shall  assur- 
edly drink;  and  art  thou  he  that  shall  alto- 
gether go  unpunished?  thou  shalt  not  go  un- 
punished, but  thou  shalt  surely  drink.  13  For 
I  have  sworn  bv  mvself,  saith  Jehovah,  that 
'  166 


Bozrah  shall  become  an  astonishment,  a  re- 
proach, a  waste,  and  a  curse;  and  all  the  cities 
thereof  shall  be  perpetual  wastes. 

14  I  have  heard  tidings  from  Jehovah,  and 
an  ambassador  is  sent  among  the  nations,  i<7v- 
ing,  Gather  yourselves  together,  and  come 
against  her,  and  rise  up  to  the  battle.  15  For, 
behold,  I  have  made  thee  small  among  the  na- 
tions, and  despised  among  men.  16  As  for 
thy  terribleness,  the  pride  of  thy  heart  hath  de- 
ceived thee,  O  thou  that  dwellest  in  the  clefts 
of  the  rock,  that  boldest  the  height  of  the  hill : 
though  thou  shouldest  make  thy  nest  as  high 
as  the  eagle,  I  will  bring  thee  down  from 
thence,  saith  Jehovah.  17  And  Edom  shall 
become  an  astonishment:  every  one  that  pass- 
eth  by  it  shall  be  astonished,  and  shall  hiss  at 
all  the  plagues  thereof.  18  As  in  the  over- 
throw of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  and  the  neigh- 
bor cities  thereof,  saith  Jehovah,  no  man  shall 
dwell  there,  neither  shall  any  son  of  man  so- 
journ therein.  19  Behold,  he  shall  come  up 
like  a  lion  from  the  pride  of  the  Jordan  against 
the  strong  habitation:  for  I  will  suddenly 
make  them  run  a^  ay  from  it;  and  whoso  is 
chosen^  him  will  I  appoint  over  it:  for  who 
is  like  me?  and  who  will  appoint  me  a  time? 
and  who  is  the  shepherd  that  will  stand  before 
me? 

167 


20  Therefore  hear  ye  the  counsel  of  Jeho- 
vah, that  he  hath  taken  against  Edom;  and  his 
purposes,  that  he  hath  proposed  against  the 
inhabitants  of  Teman:  Surely  they  shall  drag 
them  away,  even  the  little  ones  of  the  flock; 
surely  he  shall  make  their  habitation  desolate 
over  them.  21  The  earth  trembleth  at  the 
noise  of  their  fall;  there  is  a  cry,  the  noise 
whereof  is  heard  in  the  Red  Sea.  22  Behold, 
he  shall  come  up  and  fly  as  the  eagle,  and 
spread  out  his  wings  against  Bozrah:  and  the 
heart  of  the  mighty  men  of  Edom  at  that 
day  shall  be  as  the  heart  of  a  woman  in  her 
pangs. 

23  Of  Damascus.  Hamath  is  confounded, 
and  Arpad;  for  they  have  heard  evil  tidings, 
they  are  melted  away:  there  is  sorrow  on  the 
sea;  it  cannot  be  quiet.  24  Damascus  is 
waxed  feeble,  she  turneth  herself  to  flee,  and 
trembling  hath  seized  on  her:  anguish  and 
sorrows  have  taken  hold  of  her,  as  of  a  woman 
in  travail.  25  How  is  the  city  of  praise  not 
forsaken,  the  city  of  my  joy?  26  Therefore 
her  young  men  shall  fall  in  her  streets,  and  all 
the  men  of  war  shall  be  brought  to  silence  in 
that  day,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts.  27  And  I 
will  kindle  a  fire  in  the  wall  of  Damascus,  and 
it  shall  devour  the  palaces  of  Ben-hadad. 

168 


28  Of  Kedar,  and  the  kingdoms  of  Hazor, 
which  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon 
smote. 

Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Arise  ye,  go  up  to 
Kedar,  and  destroy  the  children  of  the  cast. 
29  Their  tents  and  their  flocks  shall  they  take; 
they  shall  carry  away  for  themselves  their  cur- 
tains, and  all  their  vessels,  and  their  camels; 
and  they  shall  cry  unto  them,  Terror  on  every 
side!  30  Flee  ye,  wander  far  off,  dwell  in  the 
depths,  O  ye  inhabitants  of  Hazor,  saith  Je- 
hovah; for  Nebuchadrezzar  king  of  Babylon 
hath  taken  counsel  against  you,  and  hath  con- 
ceived a  purpose  against  you.  31  Arise,  get 
you  up  into  a  nation  that  is  at  ease,  that  dwell- 
eth  without  care,  saith  Jehovah;  that  have 
neither  gates  nor  bars,  that  dwell  alone.  32 
And  their  camels  shall  be  a  booty,  and  the 
multitude  of  their  cattle  a  spoil:  and  I  will 
scatter  unto  all  winds  them  that  have  the  cor- 
ners of  their  hair  cut  ofi]  and  I  will  bring  their 
calamity  from  every  side  of  them,  saith  Je- 
hovah. 33  And  Hazor  shall  be  a  dwelling- 
place  of  jackals,  a  desolation  for  ever:  no  man 
shall  dwell  there,  neither  shall  any  son  of  man 
sojourn  therein. 

34  The  word  of  Jehovah  that  came  to  Jere- 
miah the  prophet  concerning  Elam,  in  the  bc- 

169 


ginning  of  the  reign  of  Zedekiah  king  of  Ju- 
dah,  saying,  35  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts: 
Behold,  I  will  break  the  bow  of  Elam,  the 
chief  of  their  might.  36  And  upon  Elam  will 
I  bring  the  four  winds  from  the  four  quarters 
of  heaven,  and  will  scatter  them  toward  all 
those  winds;  and  there  shall  be  no  nation 
whither  the  outcasts  of  Elam  shall  not  come. 
37  And  I  will  cause  Elam  to  be  dismayed  be- 
fore their  enemies,  and  before  them  that  seek 
their  life;  and  I  will  bring  evil  upon  them, 
even  my  fierce  anger,  saith  Jehovah;  and  I 
will  send  the  sword  after  them,  till  I  have 
consumed  them:  38  and  I  will  set  my  throne 
in  Elam,  and  will  destroy  from  thence  king 
and  princes,  saith  Jehovah.  39  But  it  shall 
come  to  pass  in  the  latter  days,  that  I  will  bring 
back  the  captivity  of  Elam,  saith  Jehovah. 


CHAPTER  L 

The  word  that  Jehovah  spake  concerning 
Babylon,  concerning  the  land  of  the  Chalde- 
ans, by  Jeremiah  the  prophet. 

2  Declare  ye  among  the  nations  and  pub- 
lish, and  set  up  a  standard;  publish,  and  con- 
ceal not:  say,  Babylon  is  taken,  Bel  is  put  to 

170 


shame,  Merodach  is  dismayed ;  her  images 
are  put  to  shame,  her  idols  are  dismayed.  3 
For  out  of  the  north  there  cometh  up  a  nation 
against  her,  which  shall  make  her  land  deso- 
late, and  none  shall  dwell  therein:  they  are 
fled,  they  are  gone,  both  man  and  beast.  4  In 
those  days,  and  in  that  time,  saith  Jehovah,  the 
children  of  Israel  shall  come,  they  and  the  chil- 
dren of  Judah  together;  they  shall  go  on  their 
way  weeping,  and  shall  seek  Jehovah  their 
God.  5  They  shall  inquire  concerning  Zion 
with  their  faces  thitherward,  saying,  Come  ye, 
and  join  yourselves  to  Jehovah  in  an  everlast- 
ing covenant  that  shall  not  be  forgotten. 

6  My  people  have  been  lost  sheep:  their 
shepherds  have  caused  them  to  go  astray; 
they  have  turned  them  away  on  the  mountains; 
they  have  gone  from  mountain  to  hill;  they 
have  forgotten  their  resting-place.  7  All  that 
found  them  have  devoured  them;  and  their 
adversaries  said.  We  are  not  guilty,  because 
they  have  sinned  against  Jehovah,  the  habi- 
tation of  righteousness,  even  Jehovah,  the  hope 
of  their  fathers.  8  Flee  out  of  the  midst  of 
Babylon,  and  go  forth  out  of  the  land  of  the 
Chaldeans,  and  be  as  the  he-goats  before  the 
flocks.  9  For,  lo,  I  will  stir  up  and  cause  to 
come  up  against  Babylon  a  company  of  great 
nations  from  the  north  country;  and  they  shall 

171 


set  themselves  in  array  against  her;  from 
thence  she  shall  be  taken:  their  arrows  shall 
be  as  of  an  expert  mighty  man;  none  shall  re- 
turn in  vain.  lo  And  Chaldea  shall  be  a 
prey:  all  that  prey  upon  her  shall  be  satis- 
fied, saith  Jehovah. 

1 1  Because  ye  are  glad,  because  ye  rejoice, 
O  ye  that  plunder  my  heritage,  because  ye  are 
w^anton  as  a  heifer  that  treadeth  out  the  grain, 
and  neigh  as  strong  horses;  12  your  mother 
shall  be  utterly  put  to  shame;  she  that  bare 
you  shall  be  confounded:  behold,  she  shall  be 
the  hindermost  of  the  nations,  a  v^ilderness,  a 
dry  land,  and  a  desert.  13  Because  of  the 
wrath  of  Jehovah  she  shall  not  be  inhabited, 
but  she  shall  be  wholly  desolate:  every  one 
that  goeth  by  Babylon  shall  be  astonished,  and 
hiss  at  all  her  plagues.  14  Set  yourselves  in 
array  against  Babylon  round  about,  all  ye  that 
bend  the  bow;  shoot  at  her,  spare  no  arrows: 
for  she  hath  sinned  against  Jehovah.  15 
Shout  against  her  round  about:  she  hath  sub- 
mitted herself;  her  bulwarks  are  fallen,  her 
walls  are  thrown  down ;  for  it  is  the  vengeance 
of  Jehovah:  take  vengeance  upon  her;  as  she 
hath  done,  do  unto  her.  16  Cut  off  the  sower 
from  Babylon,  and  him  that  handleth  the 
sickle  in  the  time  of  harvest:  for  fear  of  the 
oppressing  sword  they  shall  turn  every  one  to 

172 


his  people,  and  they  shall  flee  every  one  to  his 
own  land. 

17  Israel  is  a  hunted  sheep;  the  lions  have 
driven  him  away:  first,  the  king  of  Assyria 
devoured  him;  and  now  at  last  Nebuchadrez- 
zar king  of  Babylon  hath  broken  his  bones. 
18  Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the 
God  of  Israel:  Behold,  I  will  punish  the  king 
of  Babylon  and  his  land,  as  I  have  punished 
the  king  of  Assyria.  19  And  I  will  bring  Is- 
rael again  to  his  pasture,  and  he  shall  feed  on 
Carmel  and  Bashan,  and  his  soul  shall  be  sat- 
isfied upon  the  hills  of  Ephraim  and  in  Gilead. 
20  In  those  days,  and  in  that  time,  saith  Je- 
hovah, the  iniquity  of  Israel  shall  be  sought 
for,  and  there  shall  be  none;  and  the  sins  of 
Judah,  and  they  shall  not  be  found:  for  I  will 
pardon»them  whom  I  leave  as  a  remnant. 

21  Go  up  against  the  land  of  Merathaim, 
even  against  it,  and  against  the  inhabitants  of 
Pekod:  slay  and  utterly  destroy  after  them, 
saith  Jehovah,  and  do  according  to  all  that  I 
have  commanded  thee.  22  A  sound  of  battle 
is  in  the  land,  and  of  great  destruction.  23 
How  is  the  hammer  of  the  whole  earth  cut 
asunder  and  broken!  how  is  Babylon  become 
a  desolation  among  the  nations!  24  I  have 
laid  a  snare  for  thee,  and  thou  art  also  taken,  O 
Babylon,  and  thou  wast  not  aware:  thou  art 

173 


found,  and  also  caught,  because  thou  hast 
striven  against  Jehovah.  25  Jehovah  hath 
opened  his  armory,  and  hath  brought  forth  the 
weapons  of  his  indignation;  for  the  Lord,  Je- 
hovah of  hosts,  hath  a  work  to  do  in  the  land 
of  the  Chaldeans.  26  Come  against  her  from 
the  utmost  border;  open  her  store-houses;  cast 
her  up  as  heaps,  and  destroy  her  utterly;  let 
nothing  of  her  be  left.  27  Slay  all  her  bul- 
locks; let  them  go  down  to  the  slaughter:  woe 
unto  them!  for  their  day  is  come,  the  time  of 
their  visitation.  28  The  voice  of  them  that 
flee  and  escape  out  of  the  land  of  Babylon,  to 
declare  in  Zion  the  vengeance  of  Jehovah  our 
God,  the  vengeance  of  his  temple. 

29  Call  together  the  archers  against  Baby- 
lon, all  them  that  bend  the  bow;  encamp 
against  her  round  about;  let  none  thereof  es- 
cape: recompense  her  according  to  her  work; 
according  to  all  that  she  hath  done,  do  unto 
her;  for  she  hath  been  proud  against  Jehovah, 
against  the  Holy  One  of  Israel.  30  There- 
fore shall  her  young  men  fall  in  her  streets, 
and  all  her  men  of  war  shall  be  brought  to 
silence  in  that  day,  saith  Jehovah.  31  Be- 
hold, I  am  against  thee,  O  thou  proud  one, 
saith  the  Lord,  Jehovah  of  hosts ;  for  thy  day  is 
come,  the  time  that  I  will  visit  thee.  32  And 
the  proud  one  shall  stumble  and  fall,  and  none 

174 


shall  raise  him  up;  and  I  will  kindle  a  fire  in 
his  cities,  and  it  shall  devour  all  that  are  round 
about  him. 

33  Thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts:  The  chil- 
dren of  Israel  and  the  children  of  Judah  are 
oppressed  together;  and  all  that  took  them 
captive  hold  fast;  they  refuse  to  let  them  go. 
34  Their  Redeemer  is  strong;  Jehovah  of 
hosts  is  his  name:  he  will  thoroughly  plead 
their  cause,  that  he  may  give  rest  to  the  earth, 
and  disquiet  the  inhabitants  of  Babylon.  35 
A  sword  is  upon  the  Chaldeans,  saith  Jehovah, 
and  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Babylon,  and  upon 
her  princes,  and  upon  her  wise  men.  36  A 
sword  is  upon  the  boasters,  and  they  shall  be- 
come fools;  a  sword  is  upon  her  mighty  men, 
and  they  shall  be  dismayed.  37  A  sword  is 
upon  their  horses,  and  upon  their  chariots,  and 
upon  all  the  mingled  people  that  are  in  the 
midst  of  her ;  and  they  shall  become  as  women : 
a  sword  is  upon  her  treasures,  and  they  shall 
be  robbed.  38  A  drought  is  upon  her  waters, 
and  they  shall  be  dried  up;  for  it  is  a  land  of 
graven  images,  and  they  are  mad  over  idols. 
39  Therefore  the  wild  beasts  of  the  desert  with 
the  wolves  shall  dwell  there,  and  the  ostriches 
shall  dwell  therein :  and  it  shall  be  no  more  in- 
habited for  ever;  neither  shall  it  be  dwelt  in 
from  generation  to  generation.     40  As  when 

175 


God  overthrew  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  and  the 
neighbor  cities  thereof,  saith  Jehovah,  so  shall 
no  man  dwell  there,  neither  shall  any  son  of 
man  sojourn  therein. 

41  Behold,  a  people  cometh  from  the  north ; 
and  a  great  nation  and  many  kings  shall  be 
stirred  up  from  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
earth.  42  They  lay  hold  on  bow  and  spear; 
they  are  cruel,  and  have  no  mercy;  their  voice 
roareth  like  the  sea ;  and  they  ride  upon  horses, 
every  one  set  in  array,  as  a  man  to  the  battle, 
against  thee,  O  daughter  of  Babylon.  43  The 
king  of  Babylon  hath  heard  the  tidings  of 
them,  and  his  hands  wax  feeble:  anguish  hath 
taken  hold  of  him,  and  pangs  as  of  a  woman  in 
travail.  44  Behold,  the  enemy  shall  come  up 
like  a  lion  from  the  pride  of  the  Jordan  against 
the  strong  habitation :  for  I  will  suddenly  make 
them  run  away  from  it;  and  whoso  is  chosen, 
him  will  I  appoint  over  it:  for  who  is  like  me? 
and  who  will  appoint  me  a  time?  and  who  is 
the  shepherd  that  can  stand  before  me?  45 
Therefore  hear  ye  the  counsel  of  Jehovah,  that 
he  hath  taken  against  Babylon;  and  his  pur- 
poses, that  he  hath  purposed  against  the  land 
of  the  Chaldeans:  Surely  they  shall  drag  them 
away,  even  the  little  ones  of  the  flock;  surely  he 
shall  make  their  habitation  desolate  over  them. 
46  At  the  noise  of  the  taking  of  Babylon  the 

176 


earth  trembleth,  and  the  cry  is  heard  among 
the  nations. 


CHAPTER  LI 

Thus  saith  Jehovah:  Behold,  I  will  raise 
up  against  Babylon,  and  against  them  that 
dwell  in  Leb-kamai,  a  destroying  wind.  2 
And  I  will  send  unto  Babylon  strangers,  that 
shall  winnow  her;  and  they  shall  empty  her 
land:  for  in  the  day  of  trouble  they  shall  be 
against  her  round  about.  3  Against  him  that 
bendeth  let  the  archer  bend  his  bow,  and 
against  him  that  lifteth  himself  up  in  his  coat 
of  mail :  and  spare  ye  not  her  young  men;  de- 
stroy ye  utterly  all  her  host.  4  And  they  shall 
fall  down  slain  in  the  land  of  the  Chaldeans, 
and  thrust  through  in  her  streets. 

5  For  Israel  is  not  forsaken,  nor  Judah,  of 
his  God,  of  Jehovah  of  hosts;  though  their 
land  is  full  of  guilt  against  the  Holy  One  of 
Israel.  6  Flee  out  of  the  midst  of  Babylon, 
and  save  every  man  his  life;  be  not  cut  off  in 
her  iniquity:  for  it  is  the  time  of  Jehovah's 
vengeance;  he  will  render  unto  her  a  recom- 
pense. 7  Babylon  hath  been  a  golden  cup  in 
Jehovah's  hand,  that  made  all  the  earth 
drunken:  the  nations  have  drunk  of  her  wine; 
therefore  the  nations  are  mad.     8  Babylon  is 

^77 


suddenly  fallen  and  destroyed:  wail  for  her; 
take  balm  for  her  pain,  if  so  be  she  may  be 
healed.  9  We  would  have  healed  Babylon, 
but  she  is  not  healed:  forsake  her,  and  let  us 
go  every  one  into  his  own  country;  for  her 
judgment  reacheth  unto  heaven,  and  is  lifted 
up  even  to  the  skies.  10  Jehovah  hath 
brought  forth  our  righteousness:  come,  and  let 
us  declare  in  Zion  the  work  of  Jehovah  our 
God. 

1 1  Make  sharp  the  arrows,  hold  firm  the 
shields:  Jehovah  hath  stirred  up  the  spirit  of 
the  kings  of  the  Medes;  because  his  purpose 
is  against  Babylon,  to  destroy  it:  for  it  is  the 
vengeance  of  Jehovah,  the  vengeance  of  his 
temple.  12  Set  up  a  standard  against  the 
walls  of  Babylon,  make  the  watch  strong,  set 
the  watchmen,  prepare  the  ambushes;  for  Je- 
hovah hath  both  purposed  and  done  that  which 
he  spake  concerning  the  inhabitants  of  Baby- 
lon. 13  O  thou  that  dwellest  upon  many  wa- 
ters, abundant  in  treasures,  thine  end  is  come, 
the  measure  of  thy  covetousness.  14  Jeho- 
vah of  hosts  hath  sworn  by  himself,  saying, 
Surely  I  will  fill  thee  with  men,  as  with  the 
canker-worm;  and  they  shall  lift  up  a  shout 
against  thee. 

15  He  hath  made  the  earth  by  his  power,  he 
hath  established  the  world  by  his  wisdom,  and 

178 


by  his  understanding  hath  he  stretched  out  the 
heavens.  i6  When  he  uttereth  his  voice, 
there  is  a  tumult  of  waters  in  the  heavens,  and 
he  causeth  the  vapors  to  ascend  from  the  ends 
of  the  earth;  he  maketh  lightnings  for  the 
rain,  and  bringeth  forth  the  wind  out  of  his 
treasuries.  17  Every  man  is  become  brutish 
and  is  without  knowledge;  every  goldsmith  is 
put  to  shame  by  his  image;  for  his  molten 
image  is  falsehood,  and  there  is  no  breath  in 
them.  18  They  are  vanity,  a  work  of  delu- 
sion: in  the  time  of  their  visitation  they  shall 
perish.  19  The  portion  of  Jacob  is  not  like 
these;  for  he  is  the  former  of  all  things;  and 
Israel  is  the  tribe  of  his  inheritance:  Jehovah 
of  hosts  is  his  name. 

20  Thou  art  my  battle-axe  and  weapons  of 
war:  and  with  thee  will  I  break  in  pieces  the 
nations;  and  with  thee  will  I  destroy  king- 
doms; 21  and  with  thee  will  I  break  in  pieces 
the  horse  and  his  rider;  22  and  with  thee  will 
I  break  in  pieces  the  chariot  and  him  that  rid- 
eth  therein;  and  with  thee  will  I  break  in 
pieces  man  and  woman;  and  with  thee  will  I 
break  in  pieces  the  old  man  and  the  youth; 
and  with  thee  will  I  break  in  pieces  the  young 
man  and  the  virgin;  23  and  with  thee  will  I 
break  in  pieces  the  shepherd  and  his  flock; 
and  with  thee  will  I  break  in  pieces  the  hus- 

179 


bandman  and  his  yoke  of  oxen;  and  with  thee 
will  I  break  in  pieces  governors  and  deputies. 
24  And  I  will  render  unto  Babylon  and  to  all 
the  inhabitants  of  Chaldea  all  their  evil  that 
they  have  done  in  Zion  in  your  sight,  saith 
Jehovah. 

25  Behold,  I  am  against  thee,  O  destroying 
mountain,  saith  Jehovah,  which  destroyest  all 
the  earth ;  and  I  will  stretch  out  my  hand  upon 
thee,  and  roll  thee  down  from  the  rocks,  and 
will  make  thee  a  burnt  mountain.  26  And 
they  shall  not  take  of  thee  a  stone  for  a  corner, 
nor  a  stone  for  foundations;  but  thou  shalt  be 
desolate  for  ever,  saith  Jehovah. 

27  Set  ye  up  a  standard  in  the  land,  blow 
the  trumpet  among  the  nations,  prepare  the 
nations  against  her,  call  together  against  her 
the  kingdoms  of  Ararat,  Minni,  and  Ash- 
kenaz:  appoint  a  marshal  against  her;  cause 
the  horses  to  come  up  as  the  rough  canker- 
worm.  28  Prepare  against  her  the  nations, 
the  kings  of  the  Medes,  the  governors  thereof, 
and  all  the  deputies  thereof,  and  all  the  land  of 
their  dominion.  29  And  the  land  trembleth 
and  is  in  pain;  for  the  purposes  of  Jehovah 
against  Babylon  do  stand,  to  make  the  land  of 
Babylon  a  desolation,  without  inhabitant.  30 
The  mighty  men  of  Babylon  have  forborne 
to  fight,  they  remain  in  their  strongholds;  their 

t8o 


might  hath  failed ;  they  are  become  as  women : 
her  dwelling-places  are  set  on  fire;  her  bars 
are  broken.  31  One  post  shall  run  to  meet 
another,  and  one  messenger  to  meet  another, 
to  show  the  king  of  Babylon  that  his  city  is 
taken  on  every  quarter:  32  and  the  passages 
are  seized,  and  the  reeds  they  have  burned 
with  fire,  and  the  men  of  war  are  affrighted. 

33  For  thus  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts,  the  God 
of  Israel:  The  daughter  of  Babylon  is  like  a 
threshing-floor  at  the  time  when  it  is  trodden; 
yet  a  little  while,  and  the  time  of  harvest  shall 
come  for  her.  34  Nebuchadrezzar  the  king 
of  Babylon  hath  devoured  me,  he  hath  crushed 
me,  he  hath  made  me  an  empty  vessel,  he  hath, 
like  a  monster,  swallowed  me  up,  he  hath  filled 
his  maw  with  my  delicacies;  he  hath  cast  me 
out.  35  The  violence  done  to  me  and  to  my 
flesh  be  upon  Babylon,  shall  the  inhabitant  of 
Zion  say;  and,  My  blood  be  upon  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Chaldea,  shall  Jerusalem  say.  36 
Therefore  thus  saith  Jehovah:  Behold,  I  will 
plead  thy  cause,  and  take  vengeance  for  thee; 
and  I  will  dry  up  her  sea,  and  make  her  foun- 
tain dry.  37  And  Babylon  shall  become 
heaps,  a  dwelling-place  for  jackals,  an  aston- 
ishment, and  a  hissing,  without  inhabitant. 
38  They  shall  roar  together  like  young  lions; 
thev  shall  growl  as  lions'  whelps.     39  When 

181 


they  are  heated,  I  will  make  their  feast,  and  I 
will  make  them  drunken,  that  they  may  re- 
joice, and  sleep  a  perpetual  sleep,  and  not 
wake,  saith  Jehovah.  40  I  wdll  bring  them 
down  like  lambs  to  the  slaughter,  like  rams 
with  he-goats. 

41  How  is  Sheshach  taken!  and  the  praise 
of  the  whole  earth  seized!  how  is  Babylon  be- 
come a  desolation  among  the  nations!  42 
The  sea  is  come  up  upon  Babylon;  she  is  cov- 
ered with  the  multitude  of  the  waves  thereof. 
43  Her  cities  are  become  a  desolation,  a  dry 
land,  and  a  desert,  a  land  wherein  no  man 
dwelleth,  neither  doth  any  son  of  man  pass 
thereby.  44  And  I  will  execute  judgment 
upon  Bel  in  Babylon,  and  I  will  bring  forth 
out  of  his  mouth  that  which  he  hath  swallowed 
up;  and  the  nations  shall  not  flow  any  more 
unto  him:  yea,  the  wall  of  Babylon  shall  fall. 

45  My  people,  go  ye  out  of  the  midst  of  her, 
and  save  yourselves  every  man  from  the  fierce 
anger  of  Jehovah.  46  And  let  not  your  heart 
faint,  neither  fear  ye  for  the  tidings  that  shall 
be  heard  in  the  land;  for  tidings  shall  come 
one  year,  and  after  that  in  another  year  shall 
come  tidings,  and  violence  in  the  land,  ruler 
against  ruler.  47  Therefore,  behold,  the  days 
come,  that  I  will  execute  judgment  upon  the 
graven  images  of  Babylon ;  and  her  whole  land 

182 


shall  be  confounded;  and  all  her  slain  shall 
fall  in  the  midst  of  her.  48  Then  the  heavens 
and  the  earth,  and  all  that  is  therein,  shall  sing 
for  joy  over  Babylon;  for  the  destroyers  shall 
come  unto  her  from  the  north,  saith  Jehovah. 
49  As  Babylon  hath  caused  the  slain  of  Israel 
to  fall,  so  at  Babylon  shall  fall  the  slain  of  all 
the  land. 

50  Ye  that  have  escaped  the  sword,  go  ye, 
stand  not  still;  remember  Jehovah  from  afar, 
and  let  Jerusalem  come  into  your  mind.  51 
We  are  confounded,  because  we  have  heard  re- 
proach; confusion  hath  covered  our  faces:  for 
strangers  are  come  into  the  sanctuaries  of  Je- 
hovah's house.  52  Wherefore,  behold,  the 
days  come,  saith  Jehovah,  that  I  will  execute 
judgment  upon  her  graven  images;  and 
through  all  her  land  the  wounded  shall  groan. 
53  Though  Babylon  should  mount  up  to 
heaven,  and  though  she  should  fortify  the 
height  of  her  strength,  yet  from  me  shall  de- 
stroyers come  unto  her,  saith  Jehovah. 

54  The  sound  of  a  cry  from  Babylon,  and 
of  great  destruction  from  the  land  of  the  Chal- 
deans! 55  For  Jehovah  layeth  Babylon 
waste,  and  destroyeth  out  of  her  the  great 
voice;  and  their  waves  roar  like  many  waters; 
the  noise  of  their  voice  is  uttered:  56  for  the 
destroyer  is  come  upon  her,  even  upon  Babv- 

183 


Ion,  and  her  mighty  men  are  taken,  their  bows 
are  broken  in  pieces;  for  Jehovah  is  a  God  of 
recompenses,  he  will  surely  requite.  57  And 
I  will  make  drunk  her  princes  and  her  wise 
men,  her  governors  and  her  deputies,  and  her 
mighty  men;  and  they  shall  sleep  a  perpetual 
sleep,  and  not  wake,  saith  the  King  whose  name 
is  Jehovah  of  hosts.  58  Thus  saith  Jehovah 
of  hosts:  The  broad  walls  of  Babylon  shall  be 
utterly  overthrown,  and  her  high  gates  shall 
be  burned  with  fire;  and  the  peoples  shall  la- 
bor for  vanity,  and  the  nations  for  the  fire; 
and  they  shall  be  weary. 

59  The  word  which  Jeremiah  the  prophet 
commanded  Seraiah  the  son  of  Neriah,  the  son 
of  Mahseiah,  when  he  went  with  Zedekiah  the 
king  of  Judah  to  Babylon  in  the  fourth  year 
of  his  reign.  Now  Seraiah  was  chief  cham- 
berlain. 60  And  Jeremiah  wrote  in  a  book 
all  the  evil  that  should  come  upon  Babylon, 
even  all  these  words  that  are  written  concern- 
ing Babylon.  61  And  Jeremiah  said  to 
Seraiah,  When  thou  comest  to  Babylon,  then 
see  that  thou  read  all  these  words,  62  and  say, 
O  Jehovah,  thou  hast  spoken  concerning  this 
place,  to  cut  it  off,  that  none  shall  dwell 
therein,  neither  man  nor  beast,  but  that  it  shall 
be  desolate  for  ever.     63  And  it  shall  be,  when 

184 


thou  hast  made  an  end  of  reading  this  book, 
that  thou  shalt  bind  a  stone  to  it,  and  cast  it 
into  the  midst  of  the  Euphrates:  64.  and  thou 
shalt  say,  Thus  shall  Babylon  sink,  and  shall 
not  rise  again  because  of  the  evil  that  I  will 
bring  upon  her;  and  they  shall  be  weary. 
Thus  far  are  the  words  of  Jeremiah. 


CHAPTER  LII 

Zedekiah  was  one  and  twenty  years  old 
when  he  began  to  reign;  and  he  reigned 
eleven  years  in  Jerusalem:  and  his  mother's 
name  w^as  Hamutal  the  daughter  of  Jeremiah 
of  Libnah.  2  And  he  did  that  which  was  evil 
in  the  sight  of  Jehovah,  according  to  all  that 
Jehoiakim  had  done.  3  For  through  the  anger 
of  Jehovah  did  it  come  to  pass  in  Jerusalem 
and  Judah,  until  he  had  cast  them  out  from 
his  presence. 

And  Zedekiah  rebelled  against  the  king  of 
Babylon.  4  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  ninth 
year  of  his  reign,  in  the  tenth  month,  in  the 
tenth  day  of  the  month,  that  Nebuchadrezzar 
king  of  Babylon  came,  he  and  all  his  armv, 
against  Jerusalem,  and  encamped  against  it; 
and  they  built  forts  against  it  round  about.  5 
So  the  city  was  besieged  unto  the  eleventh  vear 

i8> 


of  king  Zedekiah.  6  In  the  fourth  month,  in 
the  ninth  day  of  the  month,  the  famine  was 
sore  in  the  city,  so  that  there  was  no  bread  for 
the  people  of  the  land.  7  Then  a  breach  was 
made  in  the  city,  and  all  the  men  of  war  fled, 
and  went  forth  out  of  the  city  by  night  by 
the  way  of  the  gate  between  the  two  walls, 
which  was  by  the  king's  garden  (now  the  Chal- 
deans were  against  the  city  round  about)  ;  and 
they  went  toward  the  Arabah.  8  But  the 
army  of  the  Chaldeans  pursued  after  the  king, 
and  overtook  Zedekiah  in  the  plains  of  Jeri- 
cho; and  all  his  army  was  scattered  from  him. 
9  Then  they  took  the  king,  and  carried  him 
up  unto  the  king  of  Babylon  to  Riblah  in  the 
land  of  Hamath;  and  he  gave  judgment  upon 
him.  10  And  the  king  of  Babylon  slew  the 
sons  of  Zedekiah  before  his  eyes:  he  slew  also 
all  the  princes  of  Judah  in  Riblah.  11  And 
he  put  out  the  eyes  of  Zedekiah;  and  the  king 
of  Babylon  bound  him  in  fetters,  and  carried 
him  to  Babylon,  and  put  him  in  prison  till  the 
day  of  his  death. 

12  Now  in  the  fifth  month,  in  the  tenth  day 
of  the  month,  which  was  the  nineteenth  year 
of  king  Nebuchadrezzar,  king  of  Babylon, 
came  Nebuzaradan  the  captain  of  the  guard, 
who  stood  before  the  king  of  Babylon,  into 
Jerusalem.     13  And  he  burned  the  house  of 

186 


Jehovah,  and  the  king's  house;  and  all  the 
houses  of  Jerusalem,  even  every  great  house, 
burned  he  with  fire.  14  And  all  the  army  of 
the  Chaldeans,  that  were  with  the  captain  of 
the  guard,  brake  down  all  the  walls  of  Jeru- 
salem round  about.  15  Then  Nebuzaradan 
the  captain  of  the  guard  carried  away  captive 
of  the  poorest  of  the  people,  and  the  residue  of 
the  people  that  were  left  in  the  city,  and  those 
that  fell  away,  that  fell  to  the  king  of  Babylon, 
and  the  residue  of  the  multitude.  16  But 
Nebuzaradan  the  captain  of  the  guard  left  of 
the  poorest  of  the  land  to  be  vine-dressers  and 
husbandmen. 

17  And  the  pillars  of  brass  that  were  in  the 
house  of  Jehovah,  and  the  bases  and  the  brazen 
sea  that  were  in  the  house  of  Jehovah,  did  the 
Chaldeans  break  in  pieces,  and  carried  all  the 
brass  of  them  to  Babylon.  18  The  pots  also, 
and  the  shovels,  and  the  snuffers,  and  the 
basins,  and  the  spoons,  and  all  the  vessels  of 
brass  wherewith  they  ministered,  took  they 
away.  19  And  the  cups,  and  the  firepans,  and 
the  basins,  and  the  pots,  and  the  candlesticks, 
and  the  spoons,  and  the  bowls — that  which  was 
of  gold,  in  gold,  and  that  which  was  of  silver, 
in  silver, — the  captain  of  the  guard  took  away. 
20  The  two  pillars,  the  one  sea,  and  the  twelve 
brazen  bulls  that  were  under  the  bases,  which 

187 


king  Solomon  had  made  for  the  house  of  Je- 
hovah— the  brass  of  all  these  vessels  was  with- 
out weight.  21  And  as  for  the  pillars,  the 
height  of  the  one  pillar  was  eighteen  cubits; 
and  a  line  of  twelve  cubits  did  compass  it;  and 
the  thickness  thereof  was  four  fingers:  it  was 
hollow.  22  And  a  capital  of  brass  was  upon 
it;  and  the  height  of  the  one  capital  was  five 
cubits,  with  network  and  pomegranates  upon 
the  capital  round  about,  all  of  brass:  and  the 
second  pillar  also  had  like  unto  these,  and 
pomegranates.  23  And  there  were  ninety  and 
six  pomegranates  on  the  sides;  all  the  pome- 
granates were  a  hundred  upon  the  network 
round  about. 

24  And  the  captain  of  the  guard  took 
Seraiah  the  chief  priest,  and  Zephaniah  the 
second  priest,  and  the  three  keepers  of  the 
threshold:  25  and  out  of  the  city  he  took  an 
officer  that  was  set  over  the  men  of  war;  and 
seven  men  of  them  that  saw  the  king's  face, 
that  were  found  in  the  city;  and  the  scribe  of 
the  captain  of  the  host,  who  mustered  the  peo- 
ple of  the  land;  and  three-score  men  of  the 
people  of  the  land,  that  were  found  in  the 
midst  of  the  city.  26  And  Nebuzaradan  the 
captain  of  the  guard  took  them,  and  brought 
them  to  the  king  of  Babylon  to  Riblah.     27 

188 


And  changed  his  prison-garments.     And  did  eat  bread  before  him  con- 
tinually all  the  days  of  his  life. — lii-33. 


And  the  king  of  Babylon  smote  them,  and  put 
them  to  death  at  Riblah  in  the  land  of  Ha- 
math.  So  Judah  was  carried  away  captive 
out  of  his  land. 

28  This  is  the  people  whom  Nebuchadrez- 
zar carried  away  captive:  in  the  seventh  year 
three  thousand  Jews  and  three  and  twenty;  29 
in  the  eighteenth  year  of  Nebuchadrezzar  he 
carried  away  captive  from  Jerusalem  eight 
hundred  thirty  and  two  persons;  30  in  the 
three  and  twentieth  year  of  Nebuchadrezzar 
Nebuzaradan  the  captain  of  the  guard  carried 
away  captive  of  the  Jews  seven  hundred  forty 
and  five  persons:  all  the  persons  were  four 
thousand  and  six  hundred. 

31  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  seven  and 
thirtieth  year  of  the  captivity  of  Jehoiakim 
king  of  Judah,  in  the  twelfth  month,  in  the 
five  and  twentieth  day  of  the  month,  that  Evil- 
merodach  king  of  Babylon,  in  the  first  year  of 
his  reign,  lifted  up  the  head  of  Jehoiakim  king 
of  Judah,  and  brought  him  forth  out  of  prison ; 
32  and  he  spake  kindly  to  him,  and  set  his 
throne  above  the  throne  of  the  kings  that  were 
with  him  in  Babylon,  33  and  changed  his 
prison  garments.  And  Jehoiakiin  did  eat 
bread  before  him  continually  all  the  days  of 

189 


his  life :  34  and  for  his  allowance  there  was  a 
continual  allowance  given  him  by  the  king  of 
Babylon,  every  day  a  portion  until  the  day  of 
his  death,  all  the  days  of  his  life. 


190 


THE  LAMENTATIONS  OF 
JEREMIAH 

CHAPTER  I 

How  doth  the  city  sit  solitary,  that  was 
full  of  people!  She  is  become  as  a  widow, 
that  was  great  among  the  nations!  She  that 
was  a  princess  among  the  provinces  is  become 
tributary! 

2  She  weepeth  sore  in  the  night,  and  her 
tears  are  on  her  cheeks;  Among  all  her  lovers 
she  hath  none  to  comfort  her:  All  her  friends 
have  dealt  treacherously  with  her;  they  are  be- 
come her  enemies. 

3  Judah  is  gone  into  captivity  because  of 
affliction,  and  because  of  great  servitude;  She 
dwelleth  among  the  nations,  she  findeth  no 
rest:  All  her  persecutors  overtook  her  within 
the  straits. 

4  The  ways  of  Zion  do  mourn,  because  none 
come  to  the  solemn  assembly;  All  her  gates 
are  desolate,  her  priests  do  sigh:  Her  virgins 

191 


are  afflicted,  and  she  herself  is  in  bitterness. 

5  Her  adversaries  are  become  the  head,  her 
enemies  prosper;  For  Jehovah  hath  afflicted 
her  for  the  multitude  of  her  transgressions: 
Her  young  children  are  gone  into  captivity 
before  the  adversary. 

6  And  from  the  daughter  of  Zion  all  her 
majesty  is  departed :  Her  princes  are  become 
like  harts  that  find  no  pasture.  And  they  are 
gone  without  strength  before  the  pursuer. 

7  Jerusalem  remembereth  in  the  days  of  her 
affliction  and  of  her  miseries  all  her  pleasant 
things  that  were  from  the  days  of  old:  When 
her  people  fell  into  the  hand  of  the  adversary, 
and  none  did  help  her.  The  adversaries  saw 
her,  they  did  mock  at  her  desolations. 

8  Jerusalem  hath  grievously  sinned;  there- 
fore she  is  become  as  an  unclean  thing;  All 
that  honored  her  despise  her,  because  they  have 
seen  her  nakedness :  Yea,  she  sigheth,  and  turn- 
eth  backward. 

9  Her  filthiness  was  in  her  skirts;  she  re- 
membered not  her  latter  end;  Therefore  is  she 
come  down  wonderfully;  she  hath  no  com- 
forter: Behold,  O  Jehovah,  my  affliction;  for 
the  enemy  hath  magnified  himself. 

10  The  adversary  hath  spread  out  his  hand 
upon  all  her  pleasant  things :  For  she  hath  seen 
that  the  nations  are  entered  into  her  sanctuary, 

192 


}!o\v  doth  tho  city  sit  sulitary,  that  was   full  oi   iKopk- !— il. 

/.(iiiii'ittiitii'iis 


Concerning  whom  thou  didst  command  that 
they  should  not  enter  into  thine  assembly. 

11  All  her  people  sigh,  they  seek  bread; 
They  have  given  their  pleasant  things  for  food 
to  refresh  the  soul:  See,  O  Jehovah,  and  be- 
hold; for  I  am  become  abject. 

12  Is  it  nothing  to  you,  all  ye  that  pass  by? 
Behold,  and  see  if  there  be  any  sorrow  like 
unto  my  sorrow,  which  is  brought  upon  me, 
Wherewith  Jehovah  hath  afflicted  me  in  the 
day  of  his  fierce  anger. 

13  From  on  high  hath  he  sent  fire  into  my 
bones,  and  it  prevaileth  against  them;  He 
hath  spread  a  net  for  my  feet,  he  hath  turned 
me  back;  He  hath  made  me  desolate  and  faint 
all  the  day. 

14  The  yoke  of  my  trangression  is  bound  by 
his  hand;  They  are  knit  together,  they  are 
come  up  upon  my  neck;  he  hath  made  my 
strength  to  fail:  The  Lord  hath  delivered  me 
into  their  hands,  against  whom  I  am  not  able 
to  stand. 

15  The  Lord  hath  set  at  naught  all  my 
mighty  men  in  the  midst  of  me ;  He  hath  called 
a  solemn  assembly  against  me  to  crush  my 
young  men:  The  Lord  hath  trodden  as  in  a 
winepress  the  virgin  daughter  of  Judah. 

16  For  these  things  I  weep;  mine  eye,  mine 
eye  runneth  down  with  water;   Because  the 

193 


comforter  that  should  refresh  my  soul  is  far 
from  me:  My  children  are  desolate,  because 
the  enemy  hath  prevailed. 

17  Zion  spreadeth  forth  her  hands;  there  is 
none  to  comfort  her;  Jehovah  hath  com- 
manded concerning  Jacob,  that  they  that  are 
round  about  him  should  be  his  adversaries: 
Jerusalem  is  among  them  as  an  unclean  thing. 

18  Jehovah  is  righteous ;  for  I  have  rebelled 
against  his  commandment:  Hear,  I  pray  you, 
all  ye  peoples,  and  behold  my  sorrow:  My 
virgins  and  my  young  men  are  gone  into  cap- 
tivity. 

19  I  called  for  my  lovers,  but  they  deceived 
me:  My  priests  and  mine  elders  gave  up  the 
ghost  in  the  city,  While  they  sought  them  food 
to  refresh  their  souls. 

20  Behold,  O  Jehovah;  for  I  am  in  dis- 
tress ;  my  heart  is  troubled ;  My  heart  is  turned 
within  me;  for  I  have  grievously  rebelled: 
Abroad  the  sword  bereaveth,  at  home  there  is 
as  death. 

21  They  have  heard  that  I  sigh;  there  is 
none  to  comfort  me;  All  mine  enemies  have 
heard  of  my  trouble ;  they  are  glad  that  thou 
hast  done  it:  Thou  wilt  bring  the  day  that 
thou  hast  proclaimed,  and  they  shall  be  like 
unto  me. 

22  Let  all   their  wickedness  come  before 

194 


thee;  And  do  unto  them,  as  thou  hast  done 
unto  me  for  all  my  transgressions:  For  my 
sighs  are  many,  and  my  heart  is  faint. 


CHAPTER  II 

How  hath  the  Lord  covered  the  daughter 
of  Zion  with  a  cloud  in  his  anger!  He  hath 
cast  down  from  heaven  unto  the  earth  the 
beauty  of  Israel,  And  hath  not  remembered  his 
footstool  in  the  day  of  his  anger. 

2  The  Lord  hath  swallowed  up  all  the  hab- 
itations of  Jacob,  and  hath  not  pitied  :  He  hath 
thrown  down  in  his  wrath  the  strongholds  of 
the  daughter  of  Judah ;  He  hath  brought  them 
down  to  the  ground;  he  hath  profaned  the 
kingdom  and  the  princes  thereof. 

3  He  hath  cut  off  in  fierce  anger  all  the 
horn  of  Israel;  He  hath  drawn  back  his  right 
hand  from  before  the  enemy:  And  he  hath 
burned  up  Jacob  like  a  flaming  fire,  which 
devoureth  round  about. 

4  He  hath  bent  his  bow  like  an  enemy,  he 
hath  stood  with  his  right  hand  as  an  adver- 
sary, And  hath  slain  all  that  were  pleasant  to 
the  eye:  In  the  tent  of  the  daughter  of  Zion 
he  hath  poured  out  his  wrath  like  fire. 

5  The  Lord  is  become  as  an  enemy,  he  hath 

195 


swallowed  up  Israel;  He  hath  swallowed  up 
all  her  palaces,  he  hath  destroyed  his  strong- 
holds; And  he  hath  multiplied  in  the  daugh- 
ter of  Judah  mourning  and  lamentation. 

6  And  he  hath  violently  taken  away  his  tab- 
ernacle, as  if  it  were  of  a  garden;  he  hath  de- 
stroyed his  place  of  assembly:  Jehovah  hath 
caused  solemn  assembly  and  sabbath  to  be 
forgotten  in  Zion,  And  hath  despised  in  the 
indignation  of  his  anger  the  king  and  the 
priest. 

7  The  Lord  hath  cast  off  his  altar,  he  hath 
abhorred  his  sanctuary;  He  hath  given  up  into 
the  hand  of  the  enemy  the  walls  of  her  pal- 
aces: They  have  made  a  noise  in  the  house  of 
Jehovah,  as  in  the  day  of  a  solemn  assembly. 

8  Jehovah  hath  purposed  to  destroy  the  wall 
of  the  daughter  of  Zion;  He  hath  stretched 
out  the  line,  he  hath  not  withdrawn  his  hand 
from  destroying:  And  he  hath  made  the  ram- 
part and  wall  to  lament;  they  languish  to- 
gether. 

9  Her  gates  are  sunk  into  the  ground;  he 
hath  destroyed  and  broken  her  bars:  Her  king 
and  her  princes  are  among  the  nations  where 
the  law  is  not;  Yea,  her  prophets  find  no  vision 
from  Jehovah. 

10  The  elders  of  the  daughter  of  Zion  sit 
upon  the  ground,  they  keep  silence;  They  have 

196 


cast  up  dust  upon  their  heads;  they  have 
girded  themselves  with  sackcloth:  The  vir- 
gins of  Jerusalem  hang  dowm  their  heads  to 
the  ground. 

1 1  Mine  eyes  do  fail  with  tears,  my  heart 
is  troubled ;  My  liver  is  poured  upon  the  earth, 
because  of  the  destruction  of  the  daughter  of 
my  people,  Because  the  young  children  and 
the  sucklings  swoon  in  the  streets  of  the  city. 

12  They  say  to  their  mothers,  Where  is 
grain  and  wine?  When  they  swoon  as  the 
wounded  in  the  streets  of  the  city,  When  their 
soul  is  poured  out  into  their  mothers'  bosom. 

13  What  shall  I  testify  unto  thee?  what 
shall  I  liken  to  thee,  O  daughter  of  Jerusalem? 
What  shall  I  compare  to  thee,  that  I  may  com- 
fort thee,  O  virgin  daughter  of  Zion?  For 
thy  breach  is  great  like  the  sea:  who  can  heal 
thee? 

14  Thy  prophets  have  seen  for  thee  false 
and  foolish  visions;  And  they  have  not  uncov- 
ered thine  iniquity,  to  bring  back  thy  captivity, 
But  have  seen  for  thee  false  oracles  and  causes 
of  banishment. 

15  All  that  pass  by  clap  their  hands  at  thee; 
They  hiss  and  wag  their  head  at  the  daughter 
of  Jerusalem,  saying,  Is  this  the  city  that  men 
called  The  perfection  of  beauty.  The  joy  of 
the  whole  earth? 

197 


i6  All  thine  enemies  have  opened  their 
mouth  wide  against  thee;  They  hiss  and  gnash 
the  teeth;  they  say,  We  have  swallowed  her 
up;  Certainly  this  is  the  day  that  we  looked 
for;  we  have  found,  we  have  seen  it. 

17  Jehovah  hath  done  that  which  he  pur- 
posed; he  hath  fulfilled  his  word  that  he  com- 
manded in  the  days  of  old;  He  hath  thrown 
down,  and  hath  not  pitied  :  And  he  hath  caused 
the  enemy  to  rejoice  over  thee;  he  hath  exalted 
the  horn  of  thine  adversaries. 

18  Their  heart  cried  unto  the  Lord:  O  wall 
of  the  daughter  of  Zion,  let  tears  run  down  like 
a  river  day  and  night;  Give  thyself  no  respite; 
let  not  the  apple  of  thine  eye  cease. 

19  Arise,  cry  out  in  the  night,  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  watches ;  Pour  out  thy  heart 
like  water  before  the  face  of  the  Lord:  Lift 
up  thy  hands  toward  him  for  the  life  of  thy 
young  children,  that  faint  for  hunger  at  the 
head  of  every  street. 

20  See,  O  Jehovah,  and  behold  to  whom 
thou  hast  done  thus!  Shall  the  women  eat 
their  fruit,  the  children  that  are  dandled  in 
the  hands?  Shall  the  priest  and  the  prophet 
be  slain  in  the  sanctuary  of  the  Lord? 

21  The  youth  and  the  old  man  lie  on  the 
ground  in  the  streets;  My  virgins  and  my 
young  men  are  fallen  by  the  sword :  Thou  hast 

198 


slain  them  in  the  day  of  thine  anger;  thou  hast 
slaughtered,  and  not  pitied. 

22  Thou  hast  called,  as  in  the  day  of  a  sol- 
emn assembly,  my  terrors  on  every  side;  And 
there  was  none  that  escaped  or  remained  in 
the  day  of  Jehovah's  anger:  Those  that  I  have 
dandled  and  brought  up  hath  mine  enemy  con- 
sumed. 

CHAPTER  III 

1  AM  the  man  that  hath  seen  affliction  by  the 
rod  of  his  wrath. 

2  He  hath  led  me  and  caused  me  to  walk 
in  darkness,  and  not  in  light. 

3  Surely  against  me  he  turneth  his  hand 
again  and  again  all  the  day. 

4  My  flesh  and  my  skin  hath  he  made  old ; 
he  hath  broken  my  bones. 

5  He  hath  builded  against  me,  and  com- 
passed me  with  gall  and  travail. 

6  He  hath  made  me  to  dwell  in  dark  places, 
as  those  that  have  been  long  dead. 

7  He  hath  walled  me  about,  that  I  cannot 
go  forth;  he  hath  made  my  chain  heavy. 

8  Yea,  when  I  cry,  and  call  for  help,  he 
shutteth  out  my  prayer. 

9  He  hath  walled  up  my  ways  with  hewn 
stone;  he  hath  made  my  paths  crooked. 

199 


10  He  is  unto  me  as  a  bear  lying  in  wait, 
as  a  lion  in  secret  places. 

1 1  He  hath  turned  aside  my  ways,  and 
pulled  me  in  pieces ;  he  hath  made  me  desolate. 

12  He  hath  bent  his  bow,  and  set  me  as  a 
mark  for  the  arrow. 

13  He  hath  caused  the  shafts  of  his  quiver 
to  enter  into  my  reins. 

14  I  am  become  a  derision  to  all  my  peo- 
ple, and  their  song  all  the  day. 

15  He  hath  filled  me  with  bitterness,  he 
hath  sated  me  with  wormwood. 

16  He  hath  also  broken  my  teeth  with 
gravel  stones;  he  hath  covered  me  with  ashes. 

17  And  thou  hast  removed  my  soul  far  off 
from  peace;  I  forgat  prosperity. 

18  And  I  said,  My  strength  is  perished, 
and  mine  expectation  from  Jehovah. 

19  Remember  mine  affliction  and  my  mis- 
ery, the  wormwood  and  the  gall. 

20  My  soul  hath  them  still  in  remembrance, 
and  is  bowed  down  within  me. 

21  This  I  recall  to  my  mind ;  therefore  have 
I  hope. 

22  It  is  of  Jehovah's  lovingkindnesses  that 
we  are  not  consumed,  because  his  compassions 
fail  not. 

23  They  are  new  every  morning;  great  is 
thy  faithfulness. 

200 


24  Jehovah  is  my  portion,  saith  my  soul; 
therefore  will  I  hope  in  him. 

25  Jehovah  is  good  unto  them  that  wait  for 
him,  to  the  soul  that  seeketh  him. 

26  It  is  good  that  a  man  should  hope  and 
quietly  wait  for  the  salvation  of  Jehovah. 

27  It  is  good  for  a  man  that  he  bear  the 
yoke  in  his  youth. 

28  Let  him  sit  alone  and  keep  silence,  be- 
cause he  hath  laid  it  upon  him. 

29  Let  him  put  his  mouth  in  the  dust,  if  so 
be  there  may  be  hope. 

30  Let  him  give  his  cheek  to  him  that 
smiteth  him;  let  him  be  filled  full  with  re- 
proach. 

31  For  the  Lord  will  not  cast  off  for  ever. 

32  For  though  he  cause  grief,  yet  will  he 
have  compassion  according  to  the  multitude  of 
his  lovingkindnesses. 

33  For  he  doth  not  afflict  willingly,  nor 
grieve  the  children  of  men. 

34  To  crush  under  foot  all  the  prisoners  of 
the  earth, 

35  To  turn  aside  the  right  of  a  man  before 
the  face  of  the  Most  High, 

36  To  subvert  a  man  in  his  cause,  the  Lord 
approveth  not. 

37  Who  is  he  that  saith,  and  it  cometh  to 
pass,  when  the  Lord  commandeth  it  not? 

201 


38  Out  of  the  mouth  of  the  Most  High 
Cometh  there  not  evil  and  good? 

39  Wherefore  doth  a  living  man  complain, 
a  man  for  the  punishment  of  his  sins? 

40  Let  us  search  and  try  our  ways,  and  turn 
again  to  Jehovah. 

41  Let  us  lift  up  our  heart  with  our  hands 
unto  God  in  the  heavens. 

42  We  have  transgressed  and  have  rebelled ; 
thou  hast  not  pardoned. 

43  Thou  hast  covered  with  anger  and  pur- 
sued us;  thou  hast  slain,  thou  hast  not  pitied. 

44  Thou  hast  covered  thyself  with  a  cloud, 
so  that  no  prayer  can  pass  through. 

45  Thou  hast  made  us  an  offscouring  and 
refuse  in  the  midst  of  the  peoples. 

46  All  our  enemies  have  opened  their  mouth 
wide  against  us. 

47  Fear  and  the  pit  are  come  upon  us, 
devastation  and  destruction. 

48  Mine  eye  runneth  down  with  streams  of 
water,  for  the  destruction  of  the  daughter  of 
my  people. 

49  Mine  eye  poureth  down,  and  ceaseth  not, 
without  any  intermission. 

50  Till  Jehovah  look  down,  and  behold 
from  heaven. 

51  Mine  eye  affecteth  my  soul,  because  of 
all  the  daughters  of  my  city. 

202 


52  They  have  chased  me  sore  like  a  bird, 
they  that  are  mine  enemies  without  cause. 

53  They  have  cut  off  my  life  in  the  dungeon, 
and  have  cast  a  stone  upon  me. 

54  Waters  flowed  over  my  head;  I  said,  I 
am  cut  off. 

55  I  called  upon  thy  name,  O  Jehovah,  out 
of  the  lowest  dungeon. 

56  Thou  heardest  my  voice;  hide  not  thine 
ear  at  my  breathing,  at  my  cry. 

57  Thou  drewest  near  in  the  day  that  I 
called  upon  thee;  thou  saidst.  Fear  not. 

58  O  Lord,  thou  hast  pleaded  the  causes  of 
my  soul;  thou  hast  redeemed  my  life. 

59  O  Jehovah,  thou  hast  seen  my  wrong; 
judge  thou  my  cause. 

60  Thou  hast  seen  all  their  vengeance  and 
all  their  devices  against  me. 

61  Thou  hast  heard  their  reproach,  O  Je- 
hovah, and  all  their  devices  against  me. 

62  The  lips  of  those  that  rose  up  against 
me,  and  their  device  against  me  all  the  day. 

63  Behold  thou  their  sitting  down,  and  their 
rising  up ;  I  am  their  song. 

64  Thou  wilt  render  unto  them  a  recom- 
pense, O  Jehovah,  according  to  the  work  of 
their  hands. 

65  Thou  wilt  give  them  hardness  of  heart, 
thy  curse  unto  them. 

203 


66  Thou  wilt  pursue  them  in  anger,  and  de- 
stroy them  from  under  the  heavens  of  Je- 
hovah. 

CHAPTER  IV 

How  is  the  gold  become  dim!  hoiv  is  the 
most  pure  gold  changed!  The  stones  of  the 
sanctuary  are  poured  out  at  the  head  of  every 
street 

2  The  precious  sons  of  Zion,  comparable  to 
fine  gold,  How  are  they  esteemed  as  earthen 
pitchers,  the  work  of  the  hands  of  the  potter! 

3  Even  the  jackals  draw  out  the  breast,  they 
give  suck  to  their  young  ones:  The  daughter 
of  my  pepole  is  become  cruel,  like  the  ostriches 
in  the  wilderness. 

4  The  tongue  of  the  sucking  child  cleaveth 
to  the  roof  of  his  mouth  for  thirst:  The  young 
children  ask  bread,  and  no  man  breaketh  it 
unto  them. 

5  They  that  did  feed  delicately  are  desolate 
in  the  streets :  They  that  were  brought  up  in 
scarlet  embrace  dunghills. 

6  For  the  iniquity  of  the  daughter  of  my 
people  is  greater  than  the  sin  of  Sodom,  That 
was  overthrown  as  in  a  moment,  and  no  hands 
were  laid  upon  her. 

7  Her  nobles  were  purer  than  snow,  they 

204 


were  whiter  than  milk ;  They  were  more  ruddy 
in  body  than  rubies,  their  polishing  was  as 
of  sapphire. 

8  Their  visage  is  blacker  than  a  coal;  they 
are  not  known  in  the  streets:  Their  skin 
cleaveth  to  their  bones;  it  is  withered,  it  is 
become  like  a  stick. 

9  They  that  are  slain  with  the  sword  are 
better  than  they  that  are  slain  with  hunger; 
For  these  pine  away,  stricken  through,  for 
want  of  the  fruits  of  the  field. 

10  The  hands  of  the  pitiful  women  have 
boiled  their  own  children;  They  were  their 
food  in  the  destruction  of  the  daughter  of  my 
people. 

1 1  Jehovah  hath  accomplished  his  wrath, 
he  hath  poured  out  his  fierce  anger;  And  he 
hath  kindled  a  fire  in  Zion,  which  hath  de- 
voured the  foundations  thereof. 

12  The  kings  of  the  earth  believed  not, 
neither  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  world,  That 
the  adversary  and  the  enemy  would  enter  into 
the  gates  of  Jerusalem. 

13  //  is  because  of  the  sins  of  her  prophets, 
and  the  iniquities  of  her  priests.  They  have 
shed  the  blood  of  the  just  in  the  midst  of  her. 

14  They  wander  as  blind  men  in  the  streets, 
they  are  polluted  with  blood,  So  that  men  can- 
not touch  their  garments. 

205 


1 5  Depart  ye,  they  cried  unto  them,  Un- 
clean! depart,  depart,  touch  not!  When  they 
fled  away  and  wandered,  men  said  among  the 
nations.  They  shall  no  more  sojourn  here. 

1 6  The  anger  of  Jehovah  hath  scattered 
them;  he  will  no  more  regard  them:  They  re- 
spected not  the  persons  of  the  priests,  they  fav- 
ored not  the  elders. 

17  Our  eyes  do  yet  fail  in  looking  for  our 
vain  help :  In  our  watching  we  have  watched 
for  a  nation  that  could  not  save. 

18  They  hunt  our  steps,  so  that  we  cannot 
go  in  our  streets :  Our  end  is  near,  our  days  are 
fulfilled;  for  our  end  is  come. 

19  Our  pursuers  were  swifter  than  the 
eagles  of  the  heavens:  They  chased  us  upon 
the  mountains,  they  laid  wait  for  us  in  the 
wilderness. 

20  The  breath  of  our  nostrils,  the  anointed 
of  Jehovah,  was  taken  in  their  pits;  Of  whom 
we  said,  Under  his  shadow  we  shall  live 
among  the  nations. 

21  Rejoice  and  be  glad,  O  daughter  of 
Edom,  that  dwellest  in  the  land  of  Uz:  The 
cup  shall  pass  through  unto  thee  also;  thou 
shalt  be  drunken,  and  shalt  make  thyself 
naked. 

22  The  punishment  of  thine  iniquity  is  ac- 
complished, O  daughter  of  Zion;  he  will  no 

206 


more  carry  thee  away  into  captivity:  He  will 
visit  thine  iniquity,  O  daughter  of  Edom;  he 
will  uncover  thy  sins. 


CHAPTER  V 

Remember,  O  Jehovah,  what  is  come  upon 
us:  Behold,  and  see  our  reproach. 

2  Our  inheritance  is  turned  unto  strangers. 
Our  houses  unto  aliens. 

3  We    are    orphans    and    fatherless;    Our 
mothers  are  as  widows. 

4  We  have  drunken  our  water  for  money; 
Our  wood  is  sold  unto  us. 

5  Our  pursuers  are  upon  our  necks :  We  are 
weary,  and  have  no  rest. 

6  We  have  given  the  hand  to  the  Egyptians, 
And  to  the  Assyrians,  to  be  satisfied  with  bread. 

7  Our  fathers  sinned,  and  are  not;  And  we 
have  borne  their  iniquities. 

8  Servants  rule  over  us:  There  is  none  to 
deliver  us  out  of  their  hand. 

9  We  get  our  bread  at  the  peril  of  our  lives. 
Because  of  the  sword  of  the  wilderness. 

10  Our  skin  is  black  like  an  oven,  Because 
of  the  burning  heat  of  famine. 

1 1  They  ravished  the  women  in  Zion,  The 
virgins  in  the  city  of  Judah. 

207 


12  Princes  were  hanged  up  by  their  hand: 
The  faces  of  elders  were  not  honored. 

13  The  young  men  bare  the  mill;  And  the 
children  stumbled  under  the  wood. 

14  The  elders  have  ceased  from  the  gate, 
The  young  men  from  their  music. 

15  The  joy  of  our  heart  is  ceased ;  Our  dance 
is  turned  into  mourning. 

16  The  crown  is  fallen  from  our  head :  Woe 
unto  us!  for  we  have  sinned. 

17  For  this  our  heart  is  faint;  For  these 
things  our  eyes  are  dim; 

18  For  the  mountain  of  Zion,  which  is  deso- 
late: The  foxes  walk  upon  it. 

19  Thou,  O  Jehovah,  abidest  for  ever;  Thy 
throne  is  from  generation  to  generation. 

20  Wherefore  dost  thou  forget  us  for  ever, 
And  forsake  us  so  long  time? 

21  Turn  thou  us  unto  thee,  O  Jehovah,  and 
we  shall  be  turned;  Renew  our  days  as  of  old. 

22  But  thou  hast  utterly  rejected  us;  Thou 
art  very  wroth  against  us. 


THE  END 


208 


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